Briatore: Hamilton still ‘great’, will be fighting for wins in 2026

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Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari has so far been a journey involving more dips than thrills, but Alpine F1 boss Flavio Briatore is betting big on the seven-time world champion’s resurgence.

With the Scuderia languishing as the only top four team in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship without a race win, and Hamilton yet to grace the podium in his scarlet overalls, the doubters are circling.

The Italian outfit’s SF-25 has evidently lacked the standout qualities of its predecessor, but Hamilton has still be comfortably outshone by teammate Charles Leclerc.

But Briatore, a seasoned F1 mastermind, believes a turnaround is on the horizon, pointing to history, perspective, and the leadership of team boss Fred Vasseur as reasons not to lose faith in hamilton’s potential.

“I already have my own problems. I’ve only been close to Ferrari in the garage. No one ever asked me to go to Ferrari, but I know that when I was at Benetton, Ferrari had to take 12 or 13 people away from me to win, starting with Michael Schumacher,” Briatore said, quoted by Automoto.it.

“Luca di Montezemolo was and is a great manager with extraordinary leadership, but even he had to wait five years to win; it was never easy. Sooner or later, [Fred Vasseur] will solve the problems.

“He’s a very good person, but F1 is very complicated today, with seven cars within two tenths of a second. This year, the only truly competitive team is McLaren.”

A Hamilton Redemption on the Horizon

With 16 races in Ferrari red and no top-three finish on Sunday to show for his efforts, Hamilton is on track to mirror Kimi Raikkonen’s podium-less 2008 season with the Italian outfit.

A near-miss at last July’s British Grand Prix, where he couldn’t overtake Nico Hülkenberg for third in the closing stages of the race, stung especially hard in front of his home crowd.

But as F1 braces for a radical rules overhaul in 2026, Briatore’s bold prophecy offers hope that Hamilton’s Ferrari dream is far from over – it’s just warming up.

“Next year, everything will change, and we’ll be fighting for the podium too,” the flamboyant Italian declared.

“You’ll see, with the new cars, Hamilton will be back in the fight for victory; he’s always great.”

For now, the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership is still waiting for its breakthrough moment. But if Briatore’s prediction is right, 2026 could mark the rebirth of both driver and team at the sharp end of Formula 1.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.