Jenson Button says he finally ‘recognises’ Lewis Hamilton again after 2025 struggles

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Jenson Button has praised Lewis Hamilton for his turnaround at Ferrari this year, highlighting how he could not “recognise” the seven-time F1 world champion at the height of his struggles at the team.

Lewis Hamilton has been recording his finest results at the wheel of Ferrari machinery yet in recent months, and currently sits in P2 in the drivers’ championship as the entire grid takes a well-earned hiatus from F1 during the summer break.

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While the recent Hungarian Grand Prix was far from an optimal result for Hamilton and Ferrari, his overall demeanour inside the F1 paddock was in stark contrast to the downtrodden world champion that we saw at the Hungaroring last year.

During his media duties last week, Hamilton highlighted how proud he was of his return to form with Ferrari this term, following his public urging of the Scuderia to replace him after last year’s disaster in Hungary.

• READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton refuses to make the same excuse as Charles Leclerc after Ferrari’s Hungary setback

Jenson Button realised that Lewis Hamilton ‘was back’ at the beginning of 2026

12 months on, and Hamilton is still well in contention to secure an eighth world title this year. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli leads him by 50 points in the summer break, and Max Verstappen already showcased that a comeback is possible from that far back last year.

In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hamilton’s former McLaren teammate, Jenson Button, was asked whether he thinks the title could genuinely be in his compatriot’s hands once the chequered flag falls on the 2026 campaign.

“If there’s one driver who’s got us used to all that, it’s Lewis Hamilton,” the 2009 F1 world champion said. “I was really surprised to see him struggling in 2025, because I found it hard to recognise him.

“I’ve watched him closely for a long time, both as a rival and for three years as a team-mate, and I know what he’s capable of.

“This year, when I saw him start the season, I realised that the Hamilton we all knew was back, and I think he’s finally managed to find his voice within the team. That’s no easy feat alongside Leclerc, who knows Ferrari inside out and has been with the team for many years.”

• READ MORE: Jenson Button thinks a new ‘Lewis Hamilton era’ is starting in Formula 1

After 11 rounds of racing now in the books, the teammate battle between Hamilton and Leclerc remains neck and neck. The Monegasque driver holds the advantage in qualifying results, but Hamilton has recorded better results when it comes to race day.

Again, this is somewhat of the opposite from last year’s dynamic at Maranello. The 41-year-old was thoroughly trounced by his younger teammate during 2025, with Hamilton managing to beat Leclerc in a Grand Prix on just three occasions.