Jun.16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says an injury sustained before his Ferrari debut contributed to his difficult first season with the Maranello team.
Fresh from his breakthrough victory in Barcelona – his first win since his final years at Mercedes – the seven-time world champion has revealed for the first time that he spent much of 2025 carrying an injury.
“I had a big crash here last year and I carried that injury around all year, which was really tough,” he told Viaplay after the Spanish GP.
The accident reportedly occurred during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the start of Hamilton’s first Ferrari season.
Hamilton’s return to the top step of the podium has become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 season, with the Briton P2 in the championship between the dominant Mercedes drivers.
The 41-year-old says a combination of renewed confidence, improved fitness and Ferrari’s development progress has transformed his fortunes.
Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz believes the regulation changes have also played a major role.
“This sport has no secrets,” Sainz, who was replaced by Hamilton at the start of last year, told Marca.
“We all have a very high level of skill and differences in driving style. Some cars perform well, others poorly.
“The driver’s strength lies in adapting and knowing how to handle all F1 cars.”
The Spaniard said he experienced something similar during his own Ferrari career. “It happened to me in 2022,” he said.
“It was a car I didn’t like at all, but I adapted, and by 2023 and 2024 I was performing at a very high level.”
Sainz believes Hamilton’s revival is closely linked to the characteristics of the new regulations.
“You go to a team with a car you like and you feel like a god,” he said. “It’s a much more complicated sport, and Lewis deserves credit for turning it around. The change in regulations was his luck.
“If he continued with last year’s car, we won’t see this Lewis.”
Piero Ferrari, Ferrari’s vice chairman and the son of founder Enzo Ferrari, also believes the new generation of cars suits Hamilton far better.
“I’m not surprised by Hamilton’s resurgence. It’s obvious Lewis didn’t like ground-effect cars, and even more so, we didn’t give him or Leclerc a competitive car.”
Hamilton has also singled out team boss Frederic Vasseur for helping turn the situation around after a difficult first year together.
“I think it was very, very difficult for him last year,” Hamilton said. “It was a serious shock to the system, because I always speak up if I see something I consider wrong, and I’m very persistent in pushing for change.”
The Briton admits his demands did not always make life easy for the Ferrari boss.
“I understand that being on the other side of that kind of pressure isn’t easy, especially when you’re simultaneously managing an entire organisation and working within an established culture.”
But Hamilton says Vasseur never stopped backing him.
“Fred continued to believe in me, remained a good friend, a great teammate and ally, and always supported me. I had to be very persistent in asking for some changes, and he was the one who made them happen.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES