Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has expressed strong confidence in Lewis Hamilton’s potential for a Ferrari renaissance, declaring “Lewis Hamilton is back” during a recent F1 Nation podcast appearance. The motorsport analyst believes the seven-time world champion has found his form again after struggling through his debut season with the Italian team in 2025, where he managed just one sprint victory in China and a best grand prix finish of fourth place.
Hamilton’s transformation appears linked to Formula 1’s latest regulatory changes, which Hinchcliffe suggests better suit the British driver’s natural racing style. “You go all the way back to ’22, and he never liked that car,” Hinchcliffe explained, referencing Hamilton’s well-documented struggles with the ground effect regulations introduced in recent years. “He just never liked those regs, something about the driving style, and we all know how he likes to approach a corner, and how that inherently was never going to work in that type of car.”
The evidence of Hamilton’s resurgence is already visible in the current campaign, where he sits fourth in the drivers’ championship with 33 points and secured his maiden podium finish for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix. More significantly, Hinchcliffe notes that Hamilton is now matching the pace of teammate Charles Leclerc, who had dominated their partnership during Hamilton’s challenging first season with the Scuderia.
Hinchcliffe credits Ferrari’s technical improvements alongside Hamilton’s personal revival, praising the team’s preparation work. “Add in the fact that Ferrari’s done their homework. They’ve shown up with a strong power unit, with a strong chassis, and he’s now going toe-to-toe with Charles Leclerc, who is a guy that everyone has touted for the last five years as world champion material,” he observed. The analyst believes this combination of factors positions Hamilton and Ferrari for potential success, stating it represents exactly what supporters hoped to see when the partnership began.