Toto Wolff always knew what Lewis Hamilton needed to look like a ‘champion’ again at Ferrari

Follow us on Google Discover

Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton is proving he’s still good enough to ‘win races and compete for championships’ at Ferrari.

Having struggled during practice, Hamilton delivered a surprise P2 in qualifying for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday. It will be his highest start as a Ferrari driver.

And it comes after Hamilton posted his best result for the team (second) in back-to-back races. He didn’t score a podium at all in his first season, but has already managed three in six rounds this year.

What would Lewis Hamilton beating Charles Leclerc at 41 do for his F1 legacy?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Toto Wolff tells Mercedes to ‘beware’ the ‘old champion’ Lewis Hamilton amid Ferrari revival

After finishing runner-up behind Kimi Antonelli in Monaco as George Russell dropped out of the points, Hamilton took second in the F1 standings.

Wolff, who oversaw Hamilton’s six title-winning seasons at Mercedes, says his old driver is becoming a growing threat.

Mercedes have won all six Grands Prix this year but Hamilton currently looks like the strongest candidate to end that streak, chasing his first win since the summer of 2024.

Lewis Hamilton believes he’s got what it takes to win the 2026 championship🏆 How do you rate his chances?

Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“You would have loved to have seen him in that form in the last couple of years driving for you!” David Coulthard told Wolff during a Channel 4 interview. “So he’s a real threat at the start of this race.”

Wolff puts the upturn in form down to Hamilton’s greater comfort in the car and more positive mindset.

“I always said, beware of the old champion,” he told Coulthard. “If he’s in a good state of mind and has a car that he likes, he can win races and compete for championships.”

2024, Hamilton’s farewell season at Mercedes, was statistically his poorest season in F1. But he then hit a new nadir in 2025 as his career-long podium streak came to an end.

However, Hamilton had an input into Ferrari’s SF-26 development, which Fred Vasseur has cited as a key factor in his transformation.