Briatore backs Hamilton to contend for wins in 2026 rule changes

Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor and a long‑time figure in Formula 1, said on Italian radio that he expects Lewis Hamilton to return to contention for wins under the sport’s new technical regulations in 2026, offering a vote of confidence after the British driver’s difficult first season with Scuderia Ferrari. Speaking on the Radio Rai program La politica nel pallone, Briatore said Hamilton will “be back in the fight for the podium and victory” once the cars change next year.

Hamilton joined Ferrari for 2025 amid high expectations but has so far struggled to reproduce the consistent front‑running form he displayed at Mercedes. The seven‑time world champion’s only race‑weekend victory this season came in the sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix, and he had not reached a podium in his first 18 grands prix for Ferrari as the season progressed. His best Grand Prix finish this year has been fourth, and he sits sixth in the drivers’ standings, behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

Briatore pointed to the compressed nature of the current field as a factor in Hamilton’s difficulties. “Formula 1 is very complicated today, with seven cars within two tenths of a second,” he said, adding...