Lewis Hamilton 'power' hailed as Ferrari transformation opens F1 title door

1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has hailed the "power" Lewis Hamilton holds, which has helped transform Ferrari back into title contenders.

The seven-time world champion is enjoying his strongest form since 2021, sitting second in the drivers' standings with one win and four further podium finishes.

Hamilton finds himself 50 points adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with his chances of securing an unprecedented eighth drivers' title greater than ever.

It is a stark contrast to the 41-year-old's first campaign with the Scuderia last year, when Hamilton largely struggled from start to finish.

The veteran failed to secure a single podium, putting his form this year into even greater perspective after his disappointing 2025 campaign.

Part of this remarkable transformation came over the winter break, when Hamilton worked closely with Ferrari to design a car around his needs, with the team listening to his feedback.

Hill believes the approach is working perfectly and highlights the influence Hamilton wields in changing the way such an iconic Formula 1 outfit operates.

"Cream always rises to the top, doesn’t it?" Hill told the official F1 website when discussing Hamilton. "I mean, he’s someone who is... you cut him in half and it just says ‘competitor’ right the way through. 

"He’s going to win at anything he does. I don’t think it sits easily with him to back off. He’s been working hard over the winter, clearly, and he’s worked on how he wants the Ferrari to be for him.

"They signed him, they paid a lot of money to have him, so he’s saying, ‘Okay, I’m not going to just sit here and do what you do. 

"I’m going to tell you what I do, and you’re going to make it suit me’. The power he has, the reputation he has, he’s putting to work, to protect himself. He’s right to do that."