Damon Hill: How Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton got back on the road to success

For Lewis Hamilton, his first Formula 1 season with Ferrari last year did not go at all as he had hoped. The former serial winner did not even make it onto the podium at any Grand Prix. It was only in the Shanghai Sprint that he achieved a genuine success, securing pole position and victory. At times, the self-critical Briton questioned himself and his abilities. Many an expert even feared he might turn his back on the Grand Prix circuit.

But Hamilton had no intention of calling it a day. On the contrary: the 106-time Grand Prix winner used the short winter break to prepare for this year’s season. And he spent a great deal of time with the team from Maranello to ensure his needs were met. With success: after eleven World Championship rounds, Hamilton is second in the standings behind leader Kimi Antonelli. He celebrated his first Grand Prix victory in red in Barcelona and is regarded by many experts as a genuine challenger to the young frontrunner from the Mercedes team.

A clear message to the Ferrari team

The fact that Hamilton has found his way back to winning ways comes as no surprise to many observers. Damon Hill, for example, explained in an expert discussion on ‘Formula1.com’: ‘The best always come out on top. He’s a fighter through and through. He’ll win at whatever he does. I don’t think it’s easy for him to just give up.”

The 1996 world champion is certain: “Lewis has obviously worked hard over the winter and thought carefully about how the Ferrari should suit him. The team paid a great deal of money to bring him on board. And so he said to himself: ‘OK, I’m not just going to sit here and do what you want. I’ll tell you what I’m doing, and you’ll make sure it suits me.’ He’s used his power and his reputation to protect himself. And he’s right to do so.”

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