• [Dailystar Icon]
• Sport
• F1
• Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton at a turning point as Ferrari star desperate to be world champ

Lewis Hamilton is at a turning point in his Ferrari career according to an F1 Grand Prix winner as the new regulations can spark the fire back in the seven-time world champion

[Lewis Hamilton wearing a red Ferrari t-shirt during a press conference]

Lewis Hamilton has a big year ahead(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Lewis Hamiltons career is a turning point heading into the new regulations, claims former F1 star Riccardo Patrese.

The seven-time world champion, 41, is looking to spark his career back into life after a dismal first season at Ferrari where he failed to finish on the podium of a Grand Prix race for the first time. The 2026 season could prove pivotal for Hamilton.

With the new regulations and cars coming potentially mixing the grid up and throwing the form book out the window, Ferrari gave a good account of themselves at pre-season testing in Bahrain and will be looking to continue that momentum into the opening weekend of the year in Australia.

[Lewis Hamilton speaking]

Hamilton is keen to forget a dismal season last year(Image: Getty)

JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

Grand Prix winner Patrese, speaking to talkSPORT BET Slots Site, believes that the new regulations could prove to be a new start for Hamilton after a wretched first year in Scarlett.

I always said the turning point would be to give Lewis Hamilton a good car to compete to win races and maybe the championship. If this is the case, I think Lewis can be competitive and win races and maybe the championship.

Ferrari went well at the end of the test. For our Tifosi, it's good, but many times they have shown they are very good at the beginning in testing and then nothing happens in the season. So, we have to check everything and wait and see.

[Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton stood next to each other in red racing overalls]

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were both winless across 24 Grands Prix in 2025(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Patrese also added that Hamiltons team-mate Charles Leclerc will also be incredibly motivated to start the new era on the front foot.

At the moment Charles Leclerc still has that anger because he hasnt won the championship yet which he and many people had expected. He really is desperate to be a world champion. He is in the right mood if he has the right car and can clash with Max Verstappen.

It's good news though that Lewis has this, if he is positive now after last year which was horrible, just to see Lewis feeling better about himself is good news for the sport.

Absolutely, because last year I felt a little bit sorry for him because you could see that he was suffering in the situation, not being competitive and not finding the right solutions with the car to improve things.

So, he was frustrated. He must have this kind of feeling now at the beginning of a season because during the winter you recharge the batteries.

I repeat, if Ferrari can provide a good car to him, I think we can see still a very good Lewis in the battle.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.