Lewis Hamilton used the negative stuff people said about him as fuel

That was the seven-time Formula 1 Champion's first win since 2024 when he won in Belgium. It was his first Ferrari win and came at a crucial time after a tough maiden season with the Maranello squad left him questioning himself amid doubts from fans and pundits about his ability to win again.

But Hamilton started 2026 in better form, more confident, which was manifested over the past three Grands Prix—Canada, Monaco, and Barcelona—where he comprehensively beat teammate Charles Leclerc and finally achieved that elusive win in Red last Sunday.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton commented on all the negative stuff doubters said about him since he joined Ferrari.

"I think for the people that say the negative stuff, I often use that as fuel," he said. "I think it's easy to be negative about people.

"I think it is worse when it's a driver that knows how hard it is in this field to do a job and they don't even have the success that I have and they talk negatively.

"It was really the fans that rescued me," the Briton pointed out. "Last year, several of the fans were shouting to me, 'Don't forget who you are,' and that really resonated with me.

"I had to question, how do I find myself again, and how do I find my center? How do I find the courage and the strength to keep going, to keep building, to keep trying?" he said.

Hamilton has revealed that he has made some changes to the manner in which he approaches racing weekends, ditching simulator work, which, along with having a new race engineer and more input in the 2026 Ferrari, appears to have given him his mojo back. (Source: Sky Sports F1)