Two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi has backed Lewis Hamilton to mount a serious title challenge in the second half of the season, believing it would be "extremely good" to see him take the fight to Mercedes.
Hamilton currently sits second in the drivers' championship, 50 points adrift of Kimi Antonelli, who has won six of the 11 races completed so far.
One of the remaining five races was won by the seven-time world champion, who ended his wait for a maiden Ferrari victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The Briton has driven superbly all season and would have been closer to Antonelli in the standings had it not been for a run of unnecessary penalties in recent races.
Nevertheless, he has demonstrated consistent pace and has regularly finished on the podium. It is particularly remarkable that he sits ahead of George Russell's Mercedes, given the Silver Arrows' dominance.
This season represents Hamilton's best opportunity to claim an unprecedented eighth drivers' title since the infamous 2021 campaign, and Ferrari has no intention of holding back.
The Scuderia intends to continue its aggressive upgrade strategy, with Fittipaldi eager to see the veteran challenge Mercedes for the championship.
"I really hope Lewis challenges for the championship," Fittipaldi told the official F1 website. "It’d be extremely good to see Lewis and Ferrari running stronger, to dice with Mercedes.
"I hope so. I have a lot of respect for [Ferrari team boss] Fred Vasseur. When I owned the A1 Team Brazil [in A1 Grand Prix], Fred [and his ART Grand Prix outfit] ran our team and did a great job.
"He’s a good guy, a top guy. I think now he knows the Italians well! So, it should be good, the second part."
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