Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed his confidence that Ferrari possesses the tools necessary for him to contend for an eighth world championship this season. The seven‑time champion, now racing for the Italian marque, 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 the twenty‑two race schedule. This marks the first occasion since the contentious 2021 showdown with Max Verstappen that Hamilton has re‑entered the title hunt. The 41‑year‑old veteran says he relishes being back in the mix and feels a renewed sense of purpose after a challenging debut year with Ferrari in 2025.
"It’s amazing," Hamilton remarked, reflecting on his progress. "The contrast with where we were last year is striking." He went on to praise the collective effort of the team, acknowledging his own contribution and the adjustments he has made to help the squad reach its current position. "I’m really proud of the team for the curve and step we have taken collectively, and I have to always acknowledge my own efforts and the work I’ve put in and the changes I’ve made to enable us to be where we are.
I’m really proud of myself for that," he said. Hamilton also cautioned that the second half of the campaign still presents a steep climb. "There’s still a lot of work to do and still a mountain to climb ahead of us on the second half of the season, but I’m more focused than ever and I really believe we can fight," he added, underscoring his belief that the fight for the title is far from over.
Despite Antonelli’s impressive form, Hamilton insists the Hungarian Grand Prix – the final event before the summer hiatus – will not be the decisive turning point in his pursuit of the young Italian. "We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push," Hamilton explained.
"There’s still a long way to go. I don’t see this one or the next one as a break point. I don’t know when it becomes the break point, if there is a break point." He emphasized the need for relentless development, noting that Ferrari has already secured two victories and numerous podiums this season. "We have had two wins as a team, plenty of podiums – we are right there on their (Mercedes) tails and I think we are now able to compete with them more consistently for victories, which I think is positive," Hamilton said.
Ferrari’s prospects at the Hungaroring have been a topic of debate among pundits, many of whom argue that the circuit’s abundance of slow‑speed corners could mitigate the power‑unit deficit that Ferrari typically experiences against Mercedes. The track’s technical layout theoretically favors cars with strong mechanical grip, a characteristic that could play to Ferrari’s strengths. Nevertheless, Hamilton refuses to take anything for granted and continues to view Mercedes as the benchmark to beat.
"I don’t want to make assumptions," he warned. "The last couple of races, ultimately we should have won the last two races if we perfected the weekend. The car was able to have won. In Spa we were more competitive than we thought and I missed something on that weekend and that’s not what I want to do this weekend." He reiterated his respect for the reigning champions, stating, "We have got 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." Looking ahead, the schedule for the Budapest weekend is packed with action across multiple categories. 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 with an F3 practice session at 8:50 a.m., then F2 practice at 10 a.m., and the first Hungarian GP practice at 12:30 p.m.
The day continues with F3 qualifying at 1:55 p.m., F2 qualifying at 3 p.m., and the second GP practice at 4 p.m., culminating in the F1 Show at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, July 25, sees an F3 sprint at 9 a.m., the third GP practice at 11:30 a.m., an F2 sprint at 1:10 p.m., and the build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 p.m., with the Hungarian GP qualifying itself slated for 3 p.m.
The day ends with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, will host 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 final build‑up to the Grand Prix at 12:30 p.m. The Hungarian Grand Prix proper begins at 2 p.m., followed by the post‑race reaction at 4 p.m. and Ted’s Notebook at 5 p.m.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Hamilton’s message to his rivals is clear: while Ferrari has made significant strides and the Hungaroring may offer a strategic advantage, the battle for the championship remains open. The team’s ongoing development, combined with Hamilton’s relentless drive, suggests that the fight for the title will intensify as the season progresses into its second half.