Lewis Hamilton's resurgence at Ferrari this season has caught the attention of former Scuderia driver Gerhard Berger, who's delighted to see the seven-time world champion bouncing back after a rough first year with the team. Hamilton's 2025 campaign has been a complete turnaround, with the British driver now sitting second in the championship on 169 points after claiming a victory and five podium finishes from eleven races. The contrast with his disappointing debut season, which yielded no wins, poles, or podiums, couldn't be starker.

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Speaking to F1.com, Berger expressed genuine happiness at witnessing both Ferrari's return to winning form and Hamilton's personal recovery. The Austrian legend acknowledged the immense challenge Hamilton faced joining the Scuderia, dealing with both technical difficulties in the car and a formidable teammate to contend with. According to Berger, last year was extremely tough for the British driver, but the veteran believes Hamilton is now finding his way through those obstacles and rediscovering the form that made him a multiple champion.

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Hamilton's revival has also impressed fellow former world champion Damon Hill, who argues that bouncing back was inevitable given the Brit's mentality. Hill describes Hamilton as fundamentally competitive, someone who simply won't accept mediocrity and has worked relentlessly behind the scenes to reshape Ferrari around his driving style. The 1996 champion suggests Hamilton's reputation and influence within the team have allowed him to demand changes rather than conform to existing structures, a power he's wielding to protect his own interests and optimize his environment.

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Hill's colorful assessment that 'cream always rises to the top' captures the broader sentiment among F1 veterans observing Hamilton's turnaround. The driver's willingness to leverage his status and achievements to influence Ferrari's development direction shows a competitor who refuses to settle, exactly the kind of mentality needed to overcome a difficult initial campaign and establish dominance within the team structure moving forward.

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