Hamilton's Barcelona comeback prompts bold championship verdict from F1 icon

The Italian, who recently weighed in on Hamilton's impressive resurgence at Ferrari, believes a title triumph for the seven-time world champion cannot be ruled out, particularly given how much of the season still remains.

Speaking to a betting platform, Patrese highlighted the confidence Hamilton is likely enjoying after his recent run of strong performances. The former Williams driver compared Hamilton's 2026 revival to emerging from a "black tunnel" while stressing that the Briton's achievements deserve greater respect.

“When you see how emotional he got on the podium, it shows how much he has had to suffer before he comes out of his black tunnel. He is getting back to where he used to be. We must not forget that Hamilton won seven championships and more than a hundred Grands Prix. And anyway, even if he goes bloody slow as last year, you need to respect him for what he achieved and what he has done. Everybody needs to stay silent and stop telling him what he should do,” Patrese explained.

When asked whether Hamilton's newfound form could develop into a genuine title challenge and ultimately deliver an eighth world championship, Patrese refused to dismiss the possibility. The six-time Grand Prix winner pointed to Ferrari's steady progress over the opening rounds of the season and suggested that, with plenty of races still remaining, Hamilton remains firmly in contention.

While Patrese believes Hamilton can mount a championship challenge, the Ferrari driver has been quick to temper expectations. Fresh from his victory in Barcelona, Hamilton insisted he is not yet thinking about an eighth world title, acknowledging the strength of Mercedes and the work Ferrari still need to do to close the gap.

The Briton noted that Ferrari continue to face a deficit to Mercedes, particularly in terms of outright pace and engine performance, which could prove costly at circuits featuring long straights.

"Honestly, with the way that the year started out, I have not really been thinking about it like that. I've not been thinking about an eighth. Of course, what we had worked towards has been being able to win, but I've always been conscious of the fact that it takes time. Mercedes have come out of the gates with a blistering car and blistering pace, both drivers doing such a great job. We know we have this power deficit. There are going to be tracks where we go with long, long straights, where that makes it even harder,” Hamilton said in Barcelona.