Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed his confidence that Ferrari possesses the capability to help him contend 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 approaches the Hungarian Grand Prix, the eleventh round of a planned twenty-two‑race calendar. This marks the first occasion since his contentious defeat to Max Verstappen in 2021 that Hamilton finds himself genuinely in the hunt for the title.
The 41‑year‑old veteran admits he relishes the return to the front‑line battle, noting the stark contrast between his present situation and the challenges he faced last year. "It’s amazing," Hamilton said, reflecting on his progress after a demanding debut season with Ferrari in 2026.
"The feeling is incredible, especially when you compare it with where we were just a year ago. I’m extremely proud of the team for the strides we’ve made together, and I also have to acknowledge my own dedication, the work I’ve put in and the adjustments I’ve made to get us where we are today. I’m proud of myself for that as well." He added that while the team has made significant headway, there remains "a mountain to climb" in the second half of the campaign.
"There’s still a lot of work to do, but I’m more focused than ever and I truly believe we can fight for the championship," Hamilton affirmed. Despite Antonelli’s impressive form, Hamilton insists the Hungarian Grand Prix – the final event before the summer break – will not be the decisive turning point in his pursuit of the 19‑year‑old Italian driver. "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 one as a break‑point. I don’t even know when a break‑point might occur, if it ever does.
This is simply the time for us to keep hammering away, double‑down on development and keep pushing forward." Hamilton highlighted that Ferrari have already secured two victories and a multitude of podium finishes, positioning them close to Mercedes in the championship hierarchy. "We’re right there on their tails and I think we can now compete with them more consistently for wins, which is a positive sign," he said. The Hungaroring has been tipped by some pundits as a venue where Ferrari could excel, given the circuit’s emphasis on handling and low‑speed corners, which may mitigate the power deficit they experience compared with Mercedes’s power unit.
Nonetheless, Hamilton cautions against complacency and stresses that Mercedes remains the benchmark to beat. "I don’t want to make assumptions," Hamilton remarked.
"In the last couple of races we should have taken the wins if we had perfected our weekends. 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 continued, "We have a car that can compete.
Mercedes still have the car to beat, naturally, as they have the most wins 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 Hungarian Grand Prix 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, includes F3 practice at 8:50 a.m., F2 practice at 10 a.m., and the first Hungarian GP practice session beginning at 12:30 p.m., 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, will see 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 the GP qualifying at 2:15 p.m., followed by the official Hungarian GP qualifying at 3 p.m. The day concludes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 26, starts with 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 build‑up to the Grand Prix at 12:30 p.m. The main event, the Hungarian Grand Prix, kicks off at 2 p.m., with the post‑race reaction and Chequered Flag ceremony at 4 p.m., and Ted’s Notebook wrapping up the coverage at 5 p.m. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal chapter in the 2026 championship, as Hamilton and Ferrari aim to close the gap to Mercedes and keep the title fight alive deep into the second half of the season.