Lewis Hamilton has expressed a strong conviction that his partnership with Ferrari gives him a realistic shot at securing an eighth world championship this season. The British driver, now 41, finds himself sitting second in the drivers' championship, 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 finale, when Max Verstappen edged him out, that Hamilton has genuinely been in the hunt for the title. He admitted that being back in the mix feels exhilarating. "It’s amazing," he said, reflecting on his 2026 campaign, which has already shown signs of recovery after a challenging debut year with the Scuderia. Hamilton highlighted the stark contrast between his current situation and the difficulties of the previous season.
"It’s a great feeling, especially when you look at where we were last year," he noted. He praised the collective effort of the Ferrari team, acknowledging the "curve and step" they have taken together. At the same time, he did not shy away from crediting his own dedication, the hard work he has put in, and the adjustments he has made to help the team reach its present position. "I’m really proud of myself for that," he added.
Despite the progress, Hamilton cautioned that there is still a long road ahead. He described the second half of the season as a "mountain to climb" but insisted his focus has never been sharper. "I really believe we can fight," he affirmed, underscoring his belief that Ferrari can contend for race wins and, ultimately, the championship.
The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, the final event before the summer hiatus, will be a crucial test. While Antonelli has been in superb form, Hamilton made it clear that the race is not a make‑or‑break moment for his title aspirations.
"We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push," he said. "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 and consistency. "This is just the time for us to continue to hammer down and double down on our development and continue to push," Hamilton explained. He pointed out that Ferrari has already secured two victories and numerous podiums this season, placing them close behind Mercedes in the constructors' race.
"We are right there on their tails and I think we are now able to compete with them more consistently for victories, which I think is positive," he said. Ferrari’s prospects at the Hungaroring have been a topic of discussion among pundits, many of whom believe the circuit’s layout—characterised by a high proportion of slow corners—might suit the Italian team’s car. While Ferrari’s power unit still lags behind Mercedes in outright performance, the technical demands of Budapest could mitigate that disadvantage, allowing the Scuderia to extract more from its chassis and aerodynamics.
Nevertheless, Hamilton remains cautious and refuses to take anything for granted. He reiterated that Mercedes remains the benchmark to beat.
"I don’t want to make assumptions," he said. "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." He reflected on the Spa‑Francorchamps round, admitting that the team had been more competitive than expected but that a missed opportunity cost them a potential win. "I missed something on that weekend and that’s not what I want to do this weekend," Hamilton warned. Looking ahead, he believes Ferrari now possesses a car capable of challenging the dominant Mercedes. "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," he said.
"But we have made subtle progress and hopefully can fight with them this weekend." The race weekend schedule is packed with support series 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, includes F3 and F2 practice sessions in the morning, Hungarian GP Practice One at 12:30 p.m., and the first qualifying sessions for the junior categories, culminating in the F1 Show at 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, sees F3 Sprint, Hungarian GP Practice Three, F2 Sprint, and the crucial Hungarian GP Qualifying session, with the final qualifying taking place at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 26, will host the F3 Feature Race, Porsche Supercup, F2 Feature Race, and the Grand Prix itself, starting at 2 p.m., followed by post‑race analysis and commentary. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW for viewers who prefer an online platform without a long‑term contract. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal chapter in the 2026 Formula 1 season, offering Hamilton and Ferrari a chance to close the gap to Mercedes, while fans can look forward to intense on‑track battles, strategic intrigue, and the ever‑present drama of a championship that remains wide open as the summer break approaches.