Rubens Barrichello knows what greatness looks like from the other garage bay. And in his eyes, Lewis Hamilton still has it.
Speaking after his latest success in Brazilian stock cars, the former Ferrari stalwart offered an emphatic defence of Hamilton’s form in his first season in red, calling the seven-time champion a “super driver” who “hasn’t forgotten how to drive.” Barrichello went further, saying he’s “absolutely sure” Hamilton will be back winning races in 2026—if Ferrari hands him the right car—and even floated the prospect of that long‑chased eighth title.
It’s a timely vote of confidence. Hamilton’s big switch to Ferrari for 2025 has been more grit than glory so far. The SF-25 hasn’t danced to his tune, and Charles Leclerc has generally had the upper hand. The frustration spilled over at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where a Q2 exit prompted Hamilton to call himself “useless” and half-jokingly suggest Ferrari swap drivers.
Barrichello’s view carries weight. He spent years at Ferrari alongside Michael Schumacher, seeing first-hand how rare talent operates within the pressure cooker of Maranello. To him, Hamilton’s current dip is circumstantial, not terminal.
Hamilton, for his part, has been clear about the path forward: the 2026 reset. The incoming rulebook—bringing an overhaul from chassis to power unit and dialing back ground-effect reliance—has been singled out by Hamilton as an opportunity to level the field after years he’s branded as “the worst” regs he’s raced under. “With less ground effects, let’s hope things shift,” he said earlier this year.
Inside Ferrari, he’s been busy. Hamilton has been feeding the factory with detailed debriefs and suggestions—“documents” full of ideas, as he put it—while praising the team’s response and the speed with which it’s adapting around him. It’s classic Hamilton: dig in on process now, chase the payoff later.
The reality, though, is that later probably means 2026. With most teams already tilting development towards the new era, 2025 looks like a holding pattern. Ferrari’s pace is enough to fight for strong results, but the transformative step he craves is unlikely before the reset. Expect Hamilton to keep shadowing the sharp end rather than dictating it—at least for now.
Barrichello’s bottom line isn’t complicated. Give Hamilton a car, and he’ll do the rest. Ferrari believes it has the ingredients. The calendar says the main course is 2026.
