Williams driver Carlos Sainz offered his appreciation for Lewis Hamilton's remarkable performance with Ferrari in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Sainz noted that Hamilton has already achieved three podium finishes by June 22, 2026, emphasizing that this rise is no coincidence.
After Montreal and Monaco, they also reached the top in Barcelona.
After a difficult period in the 2025 season, Hamilton began a recovery process with Ferrari in 2026. Achieving second place in the Montreal and Monaco Grand Prix races, and winning the Barcelona Grand Prix, Hamilton established himself as one of the most prominent drivers of the season. The new technical regulations also played a significant role in this recovery.
Sainz also talked about his Ferrari experience.
Sainz, commenting on Hamilton's performance, offered a concrete example from his own career: "What happened in Barcelona shows that there are no secret formulas in this sport. There is a very high level of talent in F1, but driving styles have different characteristics."“
The Williams driver highlighted the crucial impact of car and driving style compatibility on F1 performance.
Sainz stated that when he joined Ferrari in 2022, he felt the car didn't suit him, but he adapted over time and performed at a high level in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In this context, he underlined how driver-car incompatibility can completely affect a career: ’You join a team and the car doesn't suit you, you can't adapt for three years and people might think you're inadequate. Then you move to another team and the car suits you perfectly, suddenly you look very different.“
Sainz stated that Hamilton's transformation from 2025 to 2026 deserves great credit, adding that the new technical regulations were also crucial in this process: "If he had continued with last year's car for three more years, we probably wouldn't be seeing the Lewis Hamilton we see this season."’