Sainz: Hamilton's Ferrari revival shows right car makes you 'look like a god'

Carlos Sainz says Lewis Hamilton's dramatic Ferrari turnaround shows how much car compatibility defines Formula 1 success. The Williams driver argues the 2026 regulation reset plays directly to Hamilton's strengths, turning a podium-less 2025 into a genuine title challenge.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's resurgence has vaulted him to second in the championship and silenced retirement calls, but Sainz's remarks cut to a core truth: even elite drivers can look ordinary in machinery that clashes with their style. The contrast between Hamilton's Ferrari revival and Sainz's slump at Williams shows how quickly fortunes shift when regulations change.

The details:

• Hamilton claimed his maiden Ferrari victory at the Barcelona Grand Prix, finishing nearly 20 seconds clear of George Russell. He sits 41 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli after runner-up finishes in Canada and Monaco.
• Sainz has scored just six points in seven races with Williams, where the FW48 has failed to deliver on its pre-season promise.
• Sainz compared Hamilton's situation to his own 2022 season at Ferrari, when he adapted to a car he initially disliked before winning four races in the ground-effect era. He said a driver's true virtue is extracting the limit from whatever machinery they are given.
• Sainz acknowledged Hamilton deserves credit for the turnaround but noted that staying in the previous regulatory era 'for another three years' might have produced very different results.

What's next:

Hamilton will aim to sustain his title push against Antonelli, while Ferrari must address the reliability issues that sidelined Charles Leclerc in Barcelona. For Sainz, the priority is unlocking performance from the FW48 to avoid being dismissed as a victim of circumstance. If Hamilton keeps closing the gap, the conversation will shift from timing to a legitimate eighth title bid.