(Motorsport-Total.com) – Emerson Fittipaldi sees Lewis Hamilton back on the right track at Ferrari. The two-time Formula 1 world champion hopes that the seven-time champion can still get involved in the fight for the world championship title in the second half of the 2026 season.
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Hamilton is currently in his second season at Ferrari. After his difficult first year with the Scuderia, there were doubts about whether the Briton could continue to compete at the highest level and regularly beat his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Fittipaldi now sees these doubts as dispelled. After the first half of the 2026 season, Hamilton is in second place in the drivers’ championship and has thus significantly improved his position within the team.
“I was so happy to see that Lewis and Ferrari are quick,” Fittipaldi told F1.com. “I remember last year. It happened to me in IndyCar and in Formula 1: when you get older, people start saying, ‘Well, he can’t drive anymore,’ and last year everyone criticized Lewis.”
Fittipaldi praises Hamilton’s car control
Fittipaldi also attributes Hamilton’s development to the characteristics of the current Formula 1 cars. The 2026 season cars are smaller and have less downforce, which, according to the Brazilian, requires additional driving skills.
“The new car is something that is not talked about much. It is smaller, has less downforce, and for me, it makes it harder to drive fast. It brings out more talent,” explains Fittipaldi.
“That is one of the reasons why Lewis has improved: because of his car control, his feel for the car. He is an extremely talented driver. He is in his second year at Ferrari, he knows the engineers and the system.”
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Hope for title duel with Mercedes
For the second half of the season, Fittipaldi hopes that Hamilton can keep the fight for the world championship open until the end of the season. Especially a duel between Ferrari and Mercedes would please the Brazilian.
“I really hope that Lewis fights for the championship,” says Fittipaldi. “It would be extremely good to see Lewis and Ferrari act stronger to duel with Mercedes. I hope so. I have great respect for Fred Vasseur.”
Fittipaldi with great respect for Vasseur
Fittipaldi has a special connection to Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur. During his time as owner of A1 Team Brazil, Vasseur worked with his racing team ART Grand Prix for the team.
“When I owned A1 Team Brazil in the A1 Grand Prix, Fred and his ART Grand Prix racing team managed our team and did a great job. He is a good guy, a top man. I think by now he knows the Italians well!” explains Fittipaldi.
The two-time world champion therefore looks optimistically at the further course of the season and expects an exciting second half of the season for Ferrari and Hamilton.
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