Lewis Hamilton: “It’s mad how people have changed their minds”

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari had to endure some bitter months last year. After the record-holding Grand Prix winner had moved to the Scuderia in Maranello, many expected another miracle from the seven-time world champion. Yet in the first few months, he had to swallow one bitter pill after another. The year passed and Hamilton failed to match the performances of his team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The Briton, who has celebrated more than 100 Grand Prix victories with McLaren and Mercedes, at times seemed truly desperate – fuelling rumours of his imminent departure from Formula 1. Some Grand Prix observers were also calling for the 41-year-old to leave the Grand Prix circuit at the start of this season. But Hamilton remained undeterred and emphasised that he was far from finished.

He finally managed to turn things round at the recent Grand Prix in Barcelona, which he won. For the first time, the record-breaking champion stood beaming on the top step of the podium in red. And some who had previously written him off could not help but acknowledge Hamilton’s performance.

Lewis Hamilton: “There are no shortcuts to success”

In the paddock at the Red Bull Ring, the 106-time Grand Prix winner responded to the change of opinion among some experts and former Grand Prix drivers. He waved it off: “It was quite mad to see how the tide has turned and how people have changed their minds. But I hardly pay any attention to that sort of thing anyway.”

For him, the reaction of his fans is far more important, the Ferrari star insisted. “That meant a lot to me,” he explained in a gentle voice. However, the driver with 387 Grand Prix starts under his belt does not want to read too much into the fact that, following his Grand Prix victory, he is suddenly being tipped as a World Championship contender: “I’m not thinking about that, because I’m familiar with this situation; I’ve been in this position a few times before. I know what I have to do. And there’s still a long way to go. So we’re not thinking about the title just yet. We’re simply trying to do as well as we can this weekend. There are no shortcuts to success. And we’re all playing our part. I’m very proud of the hard work everyone is putting in. We’ll just carry on and try to maintain this high standard.”

Topic of the week

From major doubts to a major spectacle: why GP fans have reason to be delighted

Before the start of the season, critical voices dominated, but the World Championship rounds so far have shown that the rule changes are delivering exactly what was hoped for: excitement right up to the final lap.

Read more

TV program

Today

Budapest: Das Rennen Re-Live

FIA Formula One World Championship

26.07.2026 - 17:15