Lewis Hamilton Hailed as 'True Champion' by Arnoux as Ferrari Gains Momentum

Lewis Hamilton has earned the ultimate validation from Ferrari royalty. Former Scuderia driver and seven-time race winner René Arnoux hailed the 41-year-old as a "true champion" after Hamilton spearheaded the team's dramatic turnaround, delivering three consecutive podiums capped by an emotional maiden Ferrari victory in Barcelona.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's resurgence has effectively silenced critics who wondered whether age and a difficult 2025 debut had dimmed his competitive fire. Ferrari's aggressive development push is finally yielding race-winning performance at precisely the moment Mercedes is unraveling with regular reliability failures, opening a genuine pathway for the Scuderia to end its championship drought and reignite the tifosi.

The details:

• Arnoux admitted to La Gazzetta dello Sport that he once believed Hamilton had "lost his edge with age," but now sees a driver who has taken Ferrari "on his shoulders" and restored the fans' faith.
• The championship picture has shifted dramatically. Hamilton sits just 41 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, turning a season that began with echoes of last year's struggles into a credible and mounting title challenge.
• Ferrari's engineering team has found real progress with its recent upgrades, and another package is reportedly locked in for the Austrian Grand Prix as the Scuderia pushes to maintain its upward curve.
• The team is enjoying its strongest competitive streak in several seasons, having unlocked a setup that plays to Hamilton's renowned strengths in racecraft and tire management.

What's next:

With Austria approaching and Ferrari poised to introduce further developments, the championship dynamic looks increasingly volatile. Arnoux believes the season is long enough for a genuine fight, declaring that "all the ingredients are there for a nail-biting battle with Mercedes" as Hamilton settles ever deeper into his red overalls.