Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed his conviction that his partnership with Ferrari can propel him into a battle for an eighth world championship this season. Currently sitting second in the drivers' standings, Hamilton trails Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 45 points as the championship heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix, the eleventh round of a scheduled twenty‑two‑race calendar.
This marks the first occasion since the contentious 2021 finale, when Max Verstappen edged him out, that Hamilton finds himself genuinely in contention for the title. The 41‑year‑old former seven‑time champion says he relishes the experience of being back in the fight. "It feels incredible," Hamilton remarked, reflecting on his progress after a challenging debut year with Ferrari in 2026.
"The contrast with where we were last season is striking, and it gives me a huge lift." He praised the collective effort of the Scuderia, acknowledging both the team's development and his own personal contributions. "I'm extremely proud of the crew for the strides we’ve taken together, and I also have to recognise the work I’ve put in, the adjustments I’ve made, and the dedication that has brought us to this point. I’m proud of myself for that as well," he added.
Hamilton also cautioned that there is still a long road ahead. "We have a mountain to climb in the second half of the year, but my focus has never been sharper and I truly believe we can fight for the championship," he said.
Despite Antonelli’s impressive form, Hamilton downplays the Hungarian Grand Prix as a make‑or‑break event for his title hopes. "We’re still developing and pushing forward.
This race, or the next one, isn’t necessarily the turning point – I don’t even know when a turning point might come, if there is one. It’s simply a time for us to keep hammering on our development and keep the pressure on," Hamilton explained. He highlighted that Ferrari have already secured two race wins and a string of podiums, positioning them close behind Mercedes. "We’re right on Mercedes’ heels and now we can consistently challenge them for victories, which is a positive sign," he noted.
Ferrari are being tipped by some pundits as potential favourites at the Hungaroring, given the circuit’s emphasis on low‑speed corners that could mitigate the power deficit they experience compared with the Mercedes power unit. The layout of Budapest, with its many tight turns, theoretically reduces the impact of raw horsepower, offering Ferrari a strategic advantage. Nevertheless, Hamilton refuses to take anything for granted and continues to view Mercedes as the benchmark.
"I don’t want to make assumptions. In the last couple of races we could have won if we had nailed the weekend. The car was capable of victory," he said. "In Spa we were more competitive than we expected, but I missed something that weekend and I don’t want a repeat of that in Hungary." He reaffirmed that Ferrari now possess a car capable of competing at the front, yet he acknowledges Mercedes’ pedigree.
"Mercedes still have the car to beat – they’ve won the most races and they won’t be easy to overcome this weekend. However, we’ve made subtle progress and I hope we can fight with them on Saturday," Hamilton added. The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is packed with support races and sessions.
Thursday, July 23, will feature a drivers’ press conference at 2 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, begins with F3 practice at 8:50 a.m., F2 practice at 10 a.m., and the first Hungarian GP practice session at 12:30 p.m., with qualifying for the support categories later in the day and the F1 Show at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25, includes the F3 Sprint at 9 a.m., the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11:30 a.m., the F2 Sprint at 1:10 p.m., and the crucial Hungarian GP qualifying at 3 p.m., followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, will see the F3 Feature Race at 7:35 a.m., the Porsche Supercup at 9:05 a.m., the F2 Feature Race at 10:20 a.m., and the main event – the Hungarian Grand Prix – kicking off at 12:30 p.m.
The race concludes with post‑race analysis, the chequered‑flag reaction, and another edition of Ted’s Notebook. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free viewing option. Hamilton’s optimism, combined with Ferrari’s steady improvement, sets the stage for an intriguing contest in Budapest and promises a compelling narrative as the championship moves into its decisive second half.