Arnoux has branded Lewis Hamilton a “true champion”, with the
Scuderia finding serious form. After a disappointing first campaign
together in 2025, Hamilton and Ferrari are now heading firmly in
the right direction, following three outstanding results in
consecutive races. Hamilton secured his first podium for the
Maranello-based outfit earlier this season in China before hitting
scintillating form from Canada onwards. The seven-time world
champion has finished second, second and first across the last
three rounds, the latest being an emotional maiden Ferrari victory
in Barcelona. It has put the 41-year-old firmly into title
contention, leaving him just 41 points adrift of Kimi Antonelli,
while Mercedes continues to suffer regular reliability issues.
Hamilton’s recent form has silenced many doubters of the 106-time
race winner, while Ferrari, as a team, is enjoying its strongest
run of form for several years. Ferrari’s aggressive development
approach is delivering immediate results, with another upgrade
package reportedly in the pipeline for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Asked for his thoughts on Hamilton and Ferrari in Barcelona, Arnoux
told La Gazzetta dello Sport : “Both surprised me. I thought
Hamilton had lost his edge with age, but he proved to be a true
champion. “He took the team on his shoulders, earning the fans’
trust. Ferrari, on the other hand, has made a huge step forward.
“The developments have worked, and the championship is still long.
All the ingredients are there for a nail-biting battle with
Mercedes.”