Fernando Alonso has come to Lewis Hamilton's defence amidst his struggles at Ferrari.
The seven-time World Champion has admitted that his debut season at Scuderia Ferrari has been tough, as adjustment to a new team and car has not been smooth sailing.
Hamilton triumphed in China as he won the Sprint Race to get his season off to a good start, but results since then haven't been up to the British driver's expectations.
Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Alonso defended his former rival:
"I think from the outside you never know for sure what is going on but Lewis doesn't need to prove anything."
"He's an incredible driver and he will figure out sooner or later to be at the top pace. He and Ferrari will be always a combo that you need to respect a lot."
'Lewis doesn't need to prove anything' 🗣️
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 28, 2025
Fernando Alonso has some words of encouragement for Lewis Hamilton 👊 pic.twitter.com/KLKirsmsNI
Alonso's support may come as a surprise considering their rivalry, especially as teammates at McLaren in 2007.
But over the years, their rivalry has grown into mutual respect and admiration.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Will Hamilton comeback stronger in the second half of the season?
Hamilton's legendary status has expectations high, both from himself and the fans.
His performance so far has come into great scrutiny, even by the driver himself, leading people to question whether he's lost his spark.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has continuously backed Hamilton against criticism.
He went into the summer break confessing that there may even "be tears" as he reflects on his performance so far, but it seems like a break may be what he needed to re-centre and refocus.
In a post shared on Instagram, Hamilton said he was grateful for the time off and ended his caption saying; "We can't look away. We have to keep going, even when it's difficult ~"
A message that seems hopeful and could be the key to a better end to 2026.