Lewis Hamilton targets eighth Formula 1 title with Ferrari in 2026
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari can help him secure a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 world championship as he chases championship leader Kimi Antonelli ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 41-year-old sits second in the 2026 driver standings, 45 points adrift of Mercedes’ teenage sensation.
This season marks the first time the British driver has been in genuine title contention since his controversial final-race defeat to Max Verstappen in 2021.
Embracing the championship fight
The seven-time world champion admitted he is relishing being back in the mix following a challenging debut campaign with the Scuderia last year.
“It’s a great feeling, especially when you look at the contrast of where we were last year here,” Hamilton said.
He praised the Italian outfit for their collective progress while acknowledging the personal adjustments he has made to return to the front of the grid.
“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.”
Hunting down Antonelli
The Hungarian Grand Prix represents the halfway stage of the 22-race calendar, serving as the final fixture before the sport’s traditional summer break.
Despite the current points deficit, the former Mercedes driver insists this weekend is not a make-or-break moment for his title aspirations against the 19-year-old Italian.
“This is just the time for us to continue to hammer down and continue to double down on our development and continue to push,” he explained.
The Maranello-based squad has already secured two victories this term, regularly pressuring their rivals for podium finishes.
Mercedes remain the benchmark
Pundits have tipped the Italian constructor to perform strongly at the Hungaroring this weekend.
The circuit’s tight, twisting layout and abundance of slow-speed corners are expected to mask Ferrari’s slight power unit deficit compared to the class-leading Mercedes engine.
However, the veteran racer is taking nothing for granted as the intense 2026 development war continues.
He remains adamant that the Silver Arrows, spearheaded by his young successor Antonelli, are still the ultimate benchmark in Budapest.
