Ex-F1 driver: Hamilton and Ferrari have let themselves down in title fight

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer has criticised how Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have handled recent races in the fight for the 2026 championship, saying the team and driver have "let themselves down" despite reliability problems affecting title rivals Mercedes and their leader Kimi Antonelli.

Championship standings

As the season arrives at the legendary Zandvoort circuit for what will be its final appearance on the calendar, Hamilton sits second in the drivers' standings, 50 points behind Antonelli. Ferrari, meanwhile, trails Mercedes by 72 points in the Constructors' Championship. Although Antonelli dominated early in the season, technical issues within his team opened the door for other drivers, including Hamilton, who claimed his first win in Ferrari colours in Barcelona.

Palmer's criticism

Speaking on the "F1 Nation" podcast, Palmer said he was disappointed that Ferrari had not fully exploited chances created by Antonelli's misfortunes, such as front wing and wheel cover issues at Silverstone that opened a gap in the championship lead. Instead, he pointed to a series of penalties that cost the team valuable points: Hamilton's jump start at Silverstone caused by moving too early, switching off the pit lane speed limiter too soon in Hungary, and a heavier penalty for impeding a rival at the Hungaroring. Palmer noted that while these penalties may only cost a handful of points each, they also cost momentum and ease the pressure on Antonelli.

Praise for Hamilton's driving

At the same time, Palmer praised Hamilton's overall level of performance following a difficult debut season at Ferrari in 2025, noting that the driver has often matched or outpaced teammate Charles Leclerc on pace, which he called a sign of clear progress. However, he stressed that the mistakes are not related to driving skill but rather to lapses in concentration or communication with the race engineer, and that these need to stop if Ferrari wants to fight for the title.