Lewis Hamilton has expressed a strong conviction that his partnership with Ferrari gives him a genuine shot at securing an eighth world championship this season. The seven‑time champion, now 41, finds himself sitting second in the drivers' standings, trailing Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 45 points as the calendar heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix – the eleventh round of a twenty‑two race schedule. This marks the first occasion since the contentious 2021 showdown with Max Verstappen that Hamilton has been firmly back in the title hunt.
The former Mercedes driver, who endured a challenging debut year with Ferrari in 2025, says the experience of being in contention again feels exhilarating. "It’s amazing," Hamilton remarked, reflecting on his 2026 campaign. "When you compare where we were last season, the turnaround is remarkable.
I’m incredibly proud of the team for the progress we’ve made together, and I also have to acknowledge the hard work I’ve put in, the adjustments I’ve made, and the relentless effort that has brought us to this point. I’m proud of myself as well." He added that while the second half of the season still presents a steep climb, his focus has never been sharper and his belief in the car’s potential remains firm. "There’s still a lot of work to do and a mountain to climb ahead of us, but I’m more focused than ever and I truly believe we can fight for the championship," he said. Despite Antonelli’s impressive form, Hamilton cautioned against viewing the Hungarian Grand Prix – the final race before the summer hiatus – as a make‑or‑break moment for his title bid.
"We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push," he explained. "There’s still a long way to go.
I don’t see this race or the next as a turning point. I don’t know when a turning point will arrive, if there ever is one.
This is simply the time for us to keep hammering away, double‑down on development, and keep pushing." Hamilton highlighted the team’s achievements so far, noting two victories and a string of podium finishes that have placed Ferrari consistently close behind Mercedes. "We’ve had two wins as a team, plenty of podiums – we’re right there on Mercedes’ tail and I think we’re now able to compete with them more consistently for victories, which is positive," he said. Ferrari’s prospects at the Hungaroring have been a topic of debate 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 that Ferrari typically experiences against Mercedes. While the Scuderia’s power unit still lags behind the German team’s, the technical nature of Budapest’s track may level the playing field, allowing drivers to exploit handling and aerodynamic strengths.
Nevertheless, Hamilton remains cautious and refuses to take any opponent lightly. "I don’t want to make assumptions," he warned. "In the last couple of races we could have won if we had perfected our weekend. The car was capable of winning.
In Spa we were more competitive than we thought, but I missed something that weekend and that’s not what I want to repeat here." He reiterated his respect for Mercedes, labeling them the "car to beat" due to their record of victories and the difficulty of dislodging them from the top step of the podium. "We have a car that can compete. I think Mercedes still have the car to beat, naturally, as they have won the most and they won’t be easy to beat this weekend. But we have made subtle progress and hopefully can fight with them this weekend," Hamilton concluded.
The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is packed with support races and activities. Thursday, July 23, will feature the drivers' press conference at 2 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, starts 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., leading into F3 qualifying at 1:55 p.m., F2 qualifying at 3 p.m., and the second GP practice at 4 p.m., before the F1 Show at 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, sees the F3 sprint at 9 a.m., the third GP practice at 11:30 a.m., the F2 sprint at 1:10 p.m., and the build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 p.m., with the Hungarian GP qualifying itself at 3 p.m. The day wraps up with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, opens with the F3 feature race at 7:35 a.m., the Porsche Supercup at 9:05 a.m., and the F2 feature race at 10:20 a.m. The Grand Prix build‑up begins at 12:30 p.m., leading to the Hungarian Grand Prix start at 2 p.m.
The race concludes with the Chequered Flag reaction at 4 p.m. and Ted’s Notebook at 5 p.m. All sessions are broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.
Fans can stream every Formula 1 session via NOW, which offers a flexible, contract‑free subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises high‑octane action, strategic battles, and a crucial test of whether Hamilton and Ferrari can sustain their challenge against the dominant Mercedes squad as the season moves into its decisive second half.