Lewis Hamilton has voiced a strong conviction that his new team, Ferrari, possesses the capability to help him mount a serious challenge for an eighth world championship this season. The British driver, now 41, currently sits second in the drivers' standings, trailing Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 45 points as the championship heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix – the eleventh round of a twenty-two‑race calendar. This marks the first occasion since the dramatic conclusion of the 2021 season, when Hamilton was narrowly beaten by Max Verstappen, that he finds himself genuinely in the hunt for the title. He has spoken openly about the thrill of being back among the frontrunners.
"It feels fantastic," Hamilton said, 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 boost." He praised the collective effort of the Scuderia, noting that the team’s recent development curve has been steep and encouraging.
"I’m incredibly proud of the whole crew for the strides we’ve made together. At the same time, I have to acknowledge my own work – the extra fitness, the mental preparation, and the technical feedback I’ve provided – which have all contributed to where we stand now.
I’m proud of those personal contributions as well." Hamilton also cautioned that the season is far from over and that a significant amount of work remains. "There’s still a mountain to climb in the second half of the year, but I feel more focused than ever and I truly believe we can fight for the championship," he added.
Despite Antonelli’s impressive form for Mercedes, Hamilton was quick to downplay the Hungarian Grand Prix as a make‑or‑break event for his title bid. "We keep developing and pushing the car forward.
This race, or the next one, isn’t a decisive turning point – at least not yet. The real breakthrough could come at any time, but we have to keep hammering on our development program and stay relentless," Hamilton explained.
He highlighted the team’s recent successes: two race victories and a string of podium finishes that have placed Ferrari consistently near the tail of the Mercedes pack. "We’re now able to challenge them more regularly for wins, which is a positive sign," he said. Ferrari’s prospects at the Hungaroring have been a topic of discussion among pundits, many of whom argue that the circuit’s layout – characterized by a high number of low‑speed corners – could mitigate the power deficit of the Ferrari power unit relative to Mercedes. While the Scuderia has struggled to match the outright horsepower of the German team, the technical nature of the Budapest track may level the playing field, giving Hamilton a better chance to exploit his car’s handling strengths.
Nevertheless, Hamilton remains cautious and refuses to take any opponent lightly. "I don’t want to make assumptions," he warned. "If we had executed perfectly over the last two weekends, we could have taken those wins.
In Spa we were more competitive than we realised, but I missed something that weekend – something I don’t want to repeat here." He reiterated his belief that Mercedes still holds the advantage in terms of overall package. "Mercedes remains the car to beat – they have the most wins and they won’t be easy to overcome this weekend. But we’ve made subtle progress, and I hope we can translate that into a real fight on the track." Looking ahead, the schedule for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is packed with action. 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, starts early with Formula 3 practice at 8:50 a.m., then Formula 2 practice at 10 a.m., and the first F1 practice session at 12:30 p.m. Qualifying sessions for F3 and F2 follow, culminating in the F1 Show at 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, includes the F3 sprint at 9 a.m., the third F1 practice at 11:30 a.m., the F2 sprint, and the crucial Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session at 3 p.m., after which the F1 Show returns at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, will see the F3 feature race, the Porsche Supercup, the F2 feature race, and finally the main event – the Hungarian Grand Prix – starting at 2 p.m., with post‑race analysis and reaction segments scheduled throughout the afternoon.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract. The Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the summer hiatus, offers a pivotal opportunity for Hamilton and Ferrari to demonstrate that their development trajectory is bearing fruit. While the championship battle is still wide open, Hamilton’s confidence, combined with the team’s technical progress, suggests that the fight for the title will remain fiercely contested as the season moves into its second half.