Emerson Fittipaldi has voiced his support for Lewis Hamilton’s championship ambitions with Ferrari, praising the seven-time world champion’s renewed form and hoping for a thrilling title fight in the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Hamilton, now in his second year with the Scuderia, sits second in the drivers’ standings after overcoming a challenging debut season with the iconic Italian team. Fittipaldi, a two-time F1 champion, told F1.com, “I was so happy to see Lewis and Ferrari going fast… Everybody last year criticised Lewis—‘He cannot beat Leclerc, he’s too old.’ Now he’s going strong. For the sport it’s good, for the fans it’s good. Seeing Ferrari winning again, and Lewis winning again, is fantastic.”
Fittipaldi credited Hamilton’s adaptability and natural talent, especially with the new generation of F1 cars: “It brings out more talent. That’s one of the reasons why Lewis improved, because of his car control, his feeling for the car—he’s an extremely talented driver.”
Looking ahead, Fittipaldi is eager to see Hamilton challenge for the championship and mix it up with Mercedes: “It’d be extremely good to see Lewis and Ferrari running stronger, to dice with Mercedes. I have a lot of respect for Fred Vasseur… It should be good, the second part [of the season].”
Hamilton’s resurgence has reignited Ferrari’s championship hopes, and Fittipaldi believes the combination of talent, experience, and improved machinery could carry them to F1 glory.
