Introduction
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was one of the biggest storylines in Formula 1 history, and his journey since has been anything but smooth. After a winless debut season with the Scuderia, the seven-time world champion has stormed back in 2026 with a performance that reminded the paddock exactly why he’s considered one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen.
This article covers Hamilton’s legendary career, his rocky start at Ferrari, and his dramatic 2026 resurgence.
Who Is Lewis Hamilton?
Sir Lewis Hamilton is a British Formula 1 driver widely regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers in motorsport history. A seven-time World Champion, he holds the record for the most Grand Prix wins, pole positions, and podium finishes in F1 history.
After more than a decade with Mercedes, Hamilton made a landmark move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, one of the most significant driver transfers in the sport’s modern era.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lewis Hamilton |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Formula 1 Driver |
| World Championships | 7 |
| Career Race Wins | 106 (as of June 2026) |
| Current Team | Scuderia Ferrari |
| Previous Team | Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
| F1 Debut Season | 2007 |
Lewis Hamilton’s Legendary F1 Career
Lewis Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut in 2007 and quickly established himself as one of the sport’s brightest talents, winning his first World Championship in his rookie-adjacent seasons. He went on to dominate the sport during his years with Mercedes, claiming six of his seven world titles between 2014 and 2020.
Throughout his career, Hamilton has become the sport’s all-time leader in race wins, pole positions, and podium finishes, cementing his place among Formula 1’s most statistically dominant drivers.
Career Achievements Table
| Achievement | Total |
|---|---|
| World Championships | 7 |
| Career Wins | 106 |
| Years Active | 2007–present |
| Teams | McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari |
The Move to Ferrari
In early 2024, Lewis Hamilton stunned the motorsport world by announcing he would leave Mercedes, the team he had been with since 2013, to join Ferrari for the 2025 season. The move came as a surprise, particularly given that Hamilton had signed a contract extension with Mercedes just a year earlier before opting to activate a release clause.
Reports at the time suggested Hamilton was drawn by Ferrari’s short- and medium-term plans, particularly around the sport’s major regulation changes arriving for the 2026 season.
A Difficult First Season in Red
Hamilton’s maiden 2025 season with Ferrari proved to be one of the most challenging of his career. He failed to secure a single podium finish for the first time in his F1 career, missed the top-10 shootout (Q3) nine times, and was outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc in roughly 80% of competitive sessions.
He also endured five race weekends without scoring points, something that hadn’t happened to him since 2012. The season ended with a partial recovery drive at the Abu Dhabi finale, climbing from 16th to eighth, though it was overshadowed by three consecutive Q1 exits. Reports at the time suggested some within Ferrari privately wondered whether Hamilton would return with full motivation for the 2026 season.
The 2026 Turnaround
A New Mindset
Heading into his second season with Ferrari, and his 20th season in Formula 1 overall, Hamilton spoke about deliberately resetting his mental approach. He revealed he decided on Christmas Day exactly how he wanted to start the new season, focusing on cultivating a more positive mindset and leaving the difficulties of 2025 behind him.
Hamilton also noted feeling “more connected” to Ferrari’s all-new 2026 car, having been involved in its development on the simulator, unlike the car he inherited during his rocky first season.
Early Season Progress
Hamilton’s 2026 campaign started with promising signs, including a fourth-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, his best start to a season in several years. He followed this with a podium finish, his first as a Ferrari driver, at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, ending a career-worst 16-month podium drought.
The Barcelona Breakthrough
Hamilton’s resurgence reached a new peak at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, where he claimed his first Grand Prix victory as a Ferrari driver. The win extended his all-time record to 106 career victories and made him the first driver over the age of 40 to win a Formula 1 race since Nigel Mansell in 1994. It also marked the first win for a British driver at Ferrari in the 21st century.
The victory was aided by a well-timed Virtual Safety Car after a late crash from Fernando Alonso, but Hamilton’s pace throughout the weekend, supported by a series of new car upgrades, played a major role in securing the result.
2026 Season Progress Table
| Race | Result |
|---|---|
| Australian GP (Season Opener) | 4th |
| Chinese GP | 3rd (first Ferrari podium) |
| Barcelona-Catalunya GP | 1st (first Ferrari win, 106th career win) |
Championship Implications
Following his Barcelona win, Hamilton closed the points gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes to 41 points, with 15 races remaining in the 22-race season. While Hamilton has been careful not to overstate his title chances, stating he hadn’t been focused on an eighth World Championship specifically, he has acknowledged that “nothing is impossible” given the momentum building within the team.
Ferrari, meanwhile, remained focused on closing the broader gap to Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship, having finished a disappointing fourth in the standings during Hamilton’s difficult debut season with the team.
Why Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 Story Resonates With Fans
Several factors make Hamilton’s ongoing Ferrari journey one of the most compelling storylines in current Formula 1:
- A genuine comeback narrative, following one of the most difficult seasons of his career
- Historic milestones, including becoming the first over-40 race winner since 1994
- Symbolic significance, as the first British Ferrari race winner of the 21st century
- Renewed championship intrigue, keeping Hamilton firmly in the title conversation
FAQs About Lewis Hamilton
1. Why did Lewis Hamilton leave Mercedes for Ferrari? Hamilton activated a release clause to join Ferrari for the 2025 season, reportedly drawn by the team’s plans around Formula 1’s major 2026 regulation changes.
2. How did Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari season go? His 2025 season was one of the most difficult of his career, ending without a single podium finish for the first time in his F1 career.
3. When did Lewis Hamilton win his first race for Ferrari? He claimed his first Ferrari victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in 2026, extending his all-time record to 106 career wins.
4. How many World Championships has Lewis Hamilton won? He has won seven Formula 1 World Championships, tying the record for most titles in the sport’s history.
5. Is Lewis Hamilton competing for the 2026 title? As of his Barcelona win, Hamilton trailed championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 41 points with 15 races remaining, keeping him within contention.
Conclusion
Lewis Hamilton‘s 2026 season stands as one of the most compelling comeback stories in recent Formula 1 history. After a genuinely difficult debut year with Ferrari, his resurgence, capped by a historic win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, has reignited excitement around his championship prospects and reaffirmed his place among the sport’s greatest competitors.
As the season continues, all eyes remain on whether Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari can build on this momentum and mount a genuine challenge for the 2026 World Championship.
