From "useless" to contender: Hamilton's turnaround from one summer to another

Last summer, after being eliminated in Q1 in both Sprint Qualifying and regular Qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps in the 2025 season, Hamilton did not make Q3 at the Hungaroring either, while Charles Leclerc claimed pole position for Ferrari. He said that Saturday: "I'm useless, absolutely useless. The team have no problem. You've seen the car's on pole. So we probably need to change driver."

This summer, the picture looks a lot different. Hamilton just won his first Grand Prix in Ferrari red, and is second in the drivers' standings. The seven-time world champion is now being regarded as a driver in the title battle with the two Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. He currently trails the Italian by 41 points. Toto Wolff also already warned about his former driver, explaining that he does not want to battle him for the biggest prize.

"I'd rather not fight with him for a title. I'm not fine with him for a title because I know what he's capable of. If he smells blood, he goes. I've seen it many years where suddenly the train, the Lewis Hamilton train, started to go and then it's very difficult to stop it," the Austrian said.

The Ferrari team boss was asked about what happened over the last year. He told GPblog, among others:"It's a lot about resilience because I think he had to face tough moments. His last season at Mercedes was not an easy one, his first season with us was not easy. He had tough moments. Spa was a place last year where he was a bit down, struggling to build up the relationship with the team. But he was able to keep the same energy into the project to be able to push at the factory. It is clearly part of the result, the fact that the two drivers are fully behind us and pushing us is key for the future."

While Hamilton has been constantly on the podium recently, the Monegasque driver has had more difficulties. Still, the Frenchman is positive about the Leclerc.

He added: "I'm more positive about Charles than two weeks ago or three weeks ago. He had a good thing going with the car. He was in confidence. He was able to fight for pole position yesterday (before his crash). And the fact that he was starting P10 and we changed of the strategy in the middle of the race, it was difficult for him, that he pitted once again one lap before the safety car. Fortunately the feeling was much better for Charles today."