Lewis Hamilton has voiced strong confidence that his partnership with Ferrari could give him a realistic shot at securing an eighth world title this season. Currently sitting second in the drivers' championship, Hamilton trails the leading Mercedes driver, Kimi Antonelli, by 45 points as the calendar heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix, the eleventh round of a 22‑race schedule. This marks the first occasion since the contentious 2021 finale, when Max Verstappen edged him out, that Hamilton finds himself genuinely in contention for the title.
The 41‑year‑old former champion says he relishes being back in the mix after a challenging debut year with the Italian team. "It feels incredible," Hamilton remarked, reflecting on his progress in 2026 after a tough first season at Ferrari. "The contrast with where we were last year is stark, and it makes the achievement all the more satisfying." He went on to praise the collective effort of the entire Ferrari outfit, acknowledging his own hard work and the adjustments he has made to help the team reach its current position. "I'm extremely proud of the team for the strides we have taken together, and I also have to give myself credit for the dedication and changes I've put in place to get us here," he said.
"There is still a lot of ground to cover in the second half of the season, but my focus has never been sharper, and I truly believe we can fight for the championship." Despite Antonelli's impressive form, Hamilton cautioned against viewing the Hungarian Grand Prix as a make‑or‑break event for his title bid. The race, which concludes the pre‑summer‑break segment of the calendar, will not be the decisive moment in his pursuit of the 19‑year‑old Italian driver.
"We continue to develop and push the car forward," Hamilton explained. "There is still a long way to go.
I don’t see this race—or the next one—as a turning point. I’m not sure when a turning point might occur, if it does at all.
This is simply the time for us to keep hammering away, double‑down on development, and maintain the pressure." He highlighted that Ferrari has already secured two victories and numerous podium finishes, positioning them close behind Mercedes in the constructors' battle. "We are right on Mercedes' heels and now have the consistency to challenge them for wins, which is a positive sign," Hamilton added. Ferrari’s car is often considered well‑suited to the Hungaroring because of its handling characteristics, which should complement the circuit’s abundance of slow corners. While the team’s power unit has not matched the outright performance of Mercedes, the technical layout of Budapest could mitigate that disadvantage.
Nevertheless, Hamilton remains cautious and refuses to take anything for granted, reiterating that Mercedes still represents the benchmark to beat. "I don’t want to make assumptions," he said.
"In the last couple of races we could have won if we had executed perfectly. The car was capable of victory. In Spa we were more competitive than expected, but I missed something that weekend and I don’t want a repeat in Hungary." He continued, "We have a car that can compete.
Mercedes still have the car to beat, naturally, as they have the most wins 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 weekend’s schedule is packed with action across the Formula ladder. On Thursday, July 23, the drivers’ press conference starts at 2 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 5 p.m.
Friday, July 24, features F3 practice at 8:50 a.m., F2 practice at 10 a.m., and Hungarian GP Practice One at 12:30 p.m., with qualifying sessions for the junior categories later in the day and the F1 Show at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25, kicks off with the F3 Sprint at 9 a.m., followed by the Hungarian GP Practice Three at 11:30 a.m., the F2 Sprint, and the crucial Hungarian GP Qualifying later in the afternoon.
The day concludes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. Sunday, July 26, rounds out the weekend with the F3 Feature Race, Porsche Supercup, and F2 Feature Race in the morning, leading into the Hungarian Grand Prix build‑up and the race itself at 2 p.m. Post‑race coverage includes the Chequered Flag reaction 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. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal moment in the championship narrative, offering Hamilton and Ferrari a chance to close the gap to Mercedes and keep the title fight alive as the season progresses into its second half.