'Real Hamilton' beginning to resurface once more - Capelli

      "Hamilton’s start indicates his desire to push boundaries"

      Lewis Hamilton returned from the summer break with a commitment to relax and enjoy the experience, but Ferrari continues to face challenges. The seven-time champion had called himself "useless" prior to the break but appeared more optimistic at Zandvoort, despite qualifying in P7, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who referred to his own performance as "terrible."

      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who collaborated with Hamilton during his peak years, believes that the 40-year-old Briton's self-criticism is not a new phenomenon. "He hasn’t lost his speed. When he has a functioning car, he goes quickly, as seen in Shanghai," he explained to Sky Italia. "That’s not the case today. In Hungary, he reacted similarly - he’s very emotional in these situations and starts to doubt himself. But that’s a positive quality; many successful individuals I know in both business and sports experience doubts.

      "And that’s how he is. When faced with these situations, he begins to question himself, not the team. For me, that’s a valuable trait because it motivates him to focus on self-improvement rather than attempting to change others," Wolff added.

      Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli, now a commentator for Sky Italia, also detected signs of Hamilton’s resurgence. During practice, Hamilton had a 360-degree spin while pushing hard, but Capelli viewed it as a step forward. "Hamilton’s start on Friday demonstrates his desire to test the limits," Capelli remarked. "He has overcome the fear of making mistakes and appeared to be someone prepared to take risks, make errors, and find performance. This is where the mentality becomes crucial - we're beginning to see the Hamilton of a few years back return."

      Following qualifying, Hamilton himself sounded more at ease. "I felt better throughout the weekend," he shared with Sky Italia. "After some reflection, I refined my approach and made a few adjustments in my preparation that contributed to a more relaxed atmosphere."

      Regarding Ferrari's broader situation, both Hamilton and Leclerc are compelled to witness McLaren's advancement. Wolff notes that this serves as a reminder of Mercedes' own previous experiences. "McLaren resembles where we were a few years ago," stated the Austrian. "They have discovered the right mix of chassis, engine, and tires. When you observe a McLaren, everything seems effortless, while we are consistently battling with our car and tires. Even a minor slip can ruin our entire performance."