Lewis Hamilton says he ‘actually believes’ Ferrari can allow him to battle for an eighth world championship title this season.
Hamilton is second within the standings, 45 factors behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli going into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix – the eleventh of the season’s 22 currently-scheduled rounds.
It is the primary time Hamilton has been in title competition since he was contentiously edged out by Max Verstappen in 2021, and the 41-year-old says he’s loving being again within the combine.
“It’s amazing,” mentioned Hamilton, who has impressed in 2026 following a troublesome first marketing campaign with Ferrari.
“It is an amazing feeling, particularly if you have a look at the distinction of the place we had been final 12 months right here.
“I am actually happy with the workforce for the curve and step now we have taken collectively and I’ve to at all times acknowledge my very own efforts and the work I’ve put in and the modifications I’ve made to allow us to be the place we’re and I am actually happy with myself for that.
“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.”
Regardless of Antonelli’s excellent kind, Hamilton is insisting that the Hungarian Grand Prix, the ultimate race earlier than the game’s summer season break, is just not make or break for his hopes of chasing down the 19-year-old Italian.
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Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton claimed his first win in pink on the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
“We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push,” Hamilton mentioned. “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.
“That is simply the time for us to proceed to hammer down and proceed to double down on our growth and proceed to push.
“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.”
‘Mercedes nonetheless the automotive to beat in Hungary’
Ferrari have been touted by some as favourites on the Hungaroring attributable to an expectation the traits of their automotive can be suited to the circuit.
Ferrari have usually been unable to match the efficiency of the Mercedes energy unit, however the excessive variety of sluggish corners in Budapest ought to theoretically make the deficiency much less of a difficulty.
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Lewis Hamilton claims Dash Pole on the British Grand Prix!
Regardless of that, Hamilton is taking nothing as a right, and insists Mercedes stay the ‘automotive to beat’.
“I don’t want to make assumptions,” Hamilton mentioned. “The last couple 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 had been extra aggressive than we thought and I missed one thing on that weekend and that is not what I need to do that weekend.
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Relive Lewis Hamilton profitable a file EIGHTH Hungarian Grand Prix again in 2020
“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.
“However now we have made refined progress and hopefully can battle with them this weekend.”
Sky Sports F1’s Hungarian GP schedule
Thursday July 23
2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
5pm: Paddock Uncut
Friday July 24
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Hungarian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)*
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Hungarian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday July 25
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Hungarian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: HUNGARIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday July 26
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Hungarian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Hungarian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads straight to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix with every session live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
