Former world champion praises Hamilton: “He is one of the greatest drivers of all time.” – Although Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari did not go as well as many had hoped, his legacy in Formula 1 remains undeniable. As the seven-time world champion approaches the end of his career, former F1 great Jackie Stewart has expressed his support and admiration for Hamilton, describing him as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. The former driver also anticipates Hamilton won’t ever fully retire from the sport.
After more than a decade of unprecedented success with Mercedes, Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari was one of the most significant moves by a driver in Formula 1 history. Expectations were sky-high, yet his debut season in red proved challenging, with inconsistent results and limited opportunities to win. However, with sweeping regulation changes on the horizon, there is still a sense that Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter may yet deliver a final high point.
A difficult start to life at Ferrari
Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari came after years of dominance at Mercedes, where he claimed six of his seven world titles and rewrote much of the record book. The move was widely seen as a bold attempt to end his career with Formula 1’s most iconic team on a romantic note.
Instead, his first campaign at Maranello was marked by frustration. Ferrari struggled to match the consistent pace of its rivals, and Hamilton had to adapt to a new car and a new working environment late in his career. While there were occasional signs of competitiveness, a sustained title challenge never truly materialised.
Nevertheless, many within the paddock believe that the upcoming regulation changes could reset the competitive order and offer Hamilton one final opportunity to compete at the top level.
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Stewart praises Hamilton’s legacy.
Speaking on the red carpet at the Autosport Awards, Jackie Stewart was asked about Hamilton’s current situation and how he might be coping with a difficult season. The three-time world champion had no hesitation in praising the Brit.
“Well, he’s one of the best drivers of all time,” he said. “He has achieved amazing records in Formula 1.”
Stewart acknowledged that the season had not been easy for Hamilton, given his stature and past success. ‘The season he’s had must have been very difficult for him,’ he admitted. Nevertheless, he was impressed by how Hamilton had conducted himself throughout the challenges. ‘He’s handled it pretty well,’ Stewart added, highlighting Hamilton’s professionalism and resilience.
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Questions around retirement
Inevitably, the discussion also turned to Hamilton’s future in the sport. At 41 years old and in his twentieth Formula 1 season, speculation about his retirement continues to grow. The interviewer noted that Stewart himself retired at the peak of his career, stepping away as a reigning world champion.
However, Stewart was reluctant to draw direct comparisons or predict Hamilton’s next move. ‘I don’t know how long his contract still runs,’ he said. “He will decide for himself whether he wants to retire. We all have to retire at some point.”
Reflecting on his own career, Stewart explained that he had known well in advance that he would be retiring at the end of the season. ‘I was lucky to know in April that I would be retiring at the end of the season. That was the right decision for me,’ he said.
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A future beyond driving
While he would not speculate on when Hamilton might step away from the cockpit, Stewart expressed hope that the British would remain part of Formula 1 in some capacity, never properly retiring from Formula 1.
“I think Lewis will decide for himself when the time is right for him to stop,” he said. “I think he will remain involved in the sport in some way. At least, I hope so.”
Whether Hamilton’s Ferrari adventure will result in an eighth world title remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that his influence on Formula 1 extends far beyond race wins and championships. As Stewart’s comments underline, Hamilton’s place among the sport’s all-time greats is already secure, regardless of how his career unfolds from here.
NEXT ARTICLE – Hamilton’s Ferrari ‘breaks down’ in shakedown and the Scuderia demonstrate their shambolic organisation once again
As Formula One’s most historic and successful team, Ferrari are persistently under the microscope more than any other competitor. In 2025, the decision was made to abandon the in season car development of the SF-25 after just six race weekends to the disappointment of both Lewis Hamilton and. Charles Leclerc.
The lack of upgrades took its toll during the second half of the year, as the Scuderia slipped from a comfortable second place in the constructors’ championship to a distant fourth come the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Whilst the SF-25 was a difficult car to drive, Charles Leclerc managed to rack up seven podiums across the season, although five of these were tellingly before the summer break.
Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Maranello ended in huge disappointment as the seven times world champion for the first time in his illustrious F1 career failed to make the podium on Sunday even once. Now the hopes of the tifosi are pinned on the extra time and resources Ferrari committed to the 2026 project and that the team will emerge as a front running contender.
Ferrari’s big reveal cock up
Yet the same old Ferrari organisation has turned up in 2026. Last week announcing Hamilton’s race engineer, Riccardo Adami, would be benched but as pre-season testing approaches no replacement has been appointed. The four and a half days Hamilton will now have in the Scuderia’s 2026 competitor will see Charles Leclerc’s engineer in his ear.
This is clearly less than ideal given the valuable time lost for Lewis and his new engineer to bond. Today Ferrari again demonstrated their shambolic organisation as they revealed their all new 2026 challenger online. The renders were immediately clear to be of the 2025 car which delivered zero victories in a season of woe.
The tifosi were quick to comment on the error and the uninspiring text associated with the pictures of the 2025 car which stated: “The 72nd (sic) Formula 1 car for Scuderia Ferrari HP is the first designed under the new regulations.”
When someone in Maranello woke up to their mistake, the renders were swiftly replaced with those relating to the 2026 car. The livery is striking and the engine cover is now completely white which resembles the car which Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen drove back in 2016. Ominously the SF-16 from ten years ago failed to win a Grand Prix, and so associating this year’s machine with that of 2016 appears to be another faux par in…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
A Brazilian motorsport writer with a background in sports journalism and broadcast reporting, Treze brings cultural insight and on-the-ground knowledge of South American racing. With credentials in communications and journalism, Treze connects today’s Formula 1 with the enduring legacy of Ayrton Senna.
