Lewis Hamilton, one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, has faced a tough challenge staying motivated in recent seasons. Since the controversial end to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mercedes has struggled to compete at the top level. That race saw FIA race director Michael Masi make a decision that denied Hamilton a record-breaking eighth world championship, giving Max Verstappen the title instead. If Hamilton had hoped for revenge the following year, it wasn’t to be, as Mercedes couldn’t provide a car fast enough to contend for wins.

In the aftermath of 2021, Red Bull, with Verstappen leading the charge, became the dominant team in Formula 1. Despite Hamilton’s undeniable talent, he found himself unable to challenge for titles, as Mercedes continued to falter. Even this season, while Red Bull has shown some vulnerability, other teams like Ferrari and McLaren have seized the opportunity better than Mercedes. As a result, Mercedes has only been the fourth-fastest team in 2023.

So far this year, Mercedes has managed just seven podium finishes, and Hamilton’s realistic goal is often a top-three finish. At times, even that seems ambitious, with both Hamilton and his teammate George Russell settling for top-six placements. Hamilton, despite being the most successful driver in Formula 1 history with seven world championships, has only won twice over the past two-and-three-quarter seasons. One of those victories, in Belgium, was bittersweet, as Russell initially stood on the podium before being disqualified for breaching the car’s weight limit.

However, there is renewed hope for Hamilton, as American Formula 1 legend Mario Andretti recently remarked that the British driver seems to have regained his “grit” and “desire.” According to Andretti, Hamilton appears reinvigorated by the prospect of his upcoming move to Ferrari in 2025. This move would be Hamilton’s first team change in 12 years, and Andretti believes it has reignited the competitive fire in him. He noted that during Mercedes’ dominance, Hamilton rarely had to “fight” hard, as the team’s advantage over the rest of the field was clear. But now, with the competition tighter, Hamilton has to be more aggressive on the track, which has brought out a new determination in him.

One of the reasons for Hamilton’s struggle at Mercedes in recent years could be the team’s decision to use him to experiment with different car setups. This strategy was aimed at expanding the car’s narrow performance window, but it has left Hamilton less comfortable when pushing the car to its limits during qualifying and in crucial moments of races. Mercedes’ issues have been compounded by difficulties in generating tire temperature on fully gripped tracks, further affecting Hamilton’s performance.

Ferrari, despite their own ups and downs this year, have shown glimpses of strong form, with Charles Leclerc securing notable wins in Monaco and Italy. As Hamilton prepares for his move to Ferrari, experts believe both Ferrari and Mercedes will have competitive engines in 2026. This sets the stage for a potential battle between Hamilton and his former team for future titles, offering the British driver a chance to return to championship contention.