Lewis Hamilton has publicly expressed his confidence that Ferrari possesses the capability to help him contend for an eighth world championship this season. At the moment, Hamilton 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 the scheduled twenty‑two races. This marks the first occasion since his controversial defeat to Max Verstappen in 2021 that Hamilton finds himself genuinely in the hunt for the title.
The 41‑year‑old veteran admits he is relishing the return to serious contention. "It feels amazing," he said, reflecting on a 2026 campaign that has already shown signs of resurgence after a challenging debut year with Ferrari.
He continued, "When you compare where we were last season with where we are now, the contrast is striking. I’m incredibly proud of the whole team for the progress we’ve made together, and I also have to recognise my own contribution – the work I’ve put in and the adjustments I’ve made to get us to this point. I’m proud of myself for that as well." Hamilton was quick to acknowledge that the battle is far from over. "There’s still a lot of work to do and a mountain to climb in the second half of the season, but I’m more focused than ever and I truly believe we can fight for the championship," he added.
Despite Antonelli’s impressive form, Hamilton insists the Hungarian Grand Prix – the final event before the summer hiatus – is not a make‑or‑break moment for his title aspirations. "We keep developing and pushing forward," he said. "There’s still a long way to go.
I don’t see this race or the next one as a decisive turning point. I don’t even know when a turning point might arrive, if it ever does." He emphasized the need for relentless effort: "This is the time for us to keep hammering away, double‑down on development, and keep pushing.
We’ve already secured two wins as a team and have stood on the podium many times. We’re right on Mercedes’ tail and I think we’re now able to challenge them more consistently for victories, which is a positive sign." Ferrari have been tipped by some analysts as potential favourites at the Hungaroring, largely because the circuit’s layout – with its abundance of slow‑speed corners – could mitigate the power‑unit disadvantage they have traditionally faced against Mercedes.
The high‑downforce nature of the track theoretically levels the playing field, allowing drivers to exploit mechanical grip rather than outright engine power. Nevertheless, Hamilton remains cautious and refuses to take anything for granted. He continues to view Mercedes as the benchmark to beat.
"I don’t want to make assumptions," he explained. "In the last couple of races we should have taken the wins if we had executed the weekends perfectly. The car was capable of winning." He reflected on the Spa‑Francorchamps round, saying, "We were more competitive than we realised, but I missed something that weekend and that’s not the approach I want to repeat in Hungary." "We have a car that can compete," Hamilton asserted. "Mercedes still have the car to beat, naturally, as they have won the most races and won’t be easy to overcome this weekend.
But we have made subtle progress and hope to fight with them on Saturday." The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix schedule is packed with support categories and practice 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 Formula 3 practice at 8:50 a.m., then Formula 2 practice at 10 a.m., and the first Formula 1 practice session at 12:30 p.m.
Qualifying for the junior categories follows, culminating in the F1 Show at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25, includes the F3 sprint at 9 a.m., the third F1 practice session at 11:30 a.m., the F2 sprint at 1:10 p.m., and the crucial Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying at 3 p.m., after which the famous Ted’s Qualifying Notebook airs 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 Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 p.m.
The Hungarian Grand Prix itself starts at 2 p.m., followed by the post‑race reaction at 4 p.m. and another edition of Ted’s Notebook at 5 p.m. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW – a contract‑free service that can be cancelled at any time. The event promises intense on‑track action, strategic battles, and the possibility of a historic eighth championship for Hamilton if Ferrari can deliver the performance he believes is within reach.
In summary, Hamilton’s message to his rivals is clear: he respects the competition, acknowledges the progress his team has made, and remains convinced that with continued development and focus, he can still mount a serious challenge for the title, even against the formidable Mercedes outfit. The Hungarian Grand Prix will be a key test of that belief, but Hamilton insists the season’s narrative is far from written, and the fight for the championship is only just beginning.