Trailing Kimi Antonelli by 45 points might not look like a close title fight. The mood inside Ferrari tells a different story.
For the first time since Lewis Hamilton pulled on the red race suit, his confidence matches the performance beneath him. The 7 time world champion arrived in Budapest sitting second in the standings with 159 points and 5 podiums. His breakthrough victory in Barcelona proved that Ferrari could give him more than occasional flashes of speed.
More importantly, Hamilton now trusts the SF26 across different circuits. Ferrari challenged at Silverstone and Spa before setting the pace on Friday at the Hungaroring.
Hamilton led second practice, with Charles Leclerc completing a Ferrari 1 and 2. The result did not decide the weekend, but it strengthened the argument that Hamilton is no longer relying on reputation or hope. He finally has the machinery to pressure the championship leader.
Ferrari Finally Built Around Hamilton
Hamilton’s first Ferrari campaign in 2025 delivered a Sprint victory in China but no Grand Prix podiums. By the final races, he was struggling to escape the opening stages of qualifying and openly questioning his own performance.
Ferrari used the winter to change more than the car.
Carlo Santi stepped into the race engineer role after Hamilton ended his partnership with Riccardo Adami. Santi was not an external hire. The 52-year-old had spent more than a decade at Ferrari, worked as Kimi Räikkönen’s race engineer in 2018 and later supported the race team from Maranello’s remote garage.
That experience helped Santi understand what Hamilton needed from the car and from the conversations around it. Their working relationship quickly became an important part of the turnaround.
Hamilton also changed his preparation. Before the Canadian Grand Prix, he chose not to use Ferrari’s simulator. Instead, he studied the available data with Santi and selected a different setup direction.
The adjustment gave Hamilton more confidence when attacking corners. Strong early results then developed into consecutive second-place finishes in Montreal and Monaco before he finally converted Ferrari’s progress into a win.
Ferrari has not cured every weakness in the SF26. It has, however, handed Hamilton a car he trusts enough to push close to its limit. That growing confidence was clear in Budapest.
“I’m more focused than ever and really believe that we can fight,” Hamilton said.
Those words would have sounded optimistic during his difficult 2025 campaign. In 2026, Ferrari’s pace gives them substance.
The Numbers Finally Back Up The Belief
Antonelli remains the clear championship favourite. He has won 6 of the opening 10 races through a combination of speed, consistency and strong execution from Mercedes.
George Russell added victories in Australia and Austria, giving Mercedes 8 wins during the opening phase of the season. Ferrari claimed the other 2 through Hamilton and Leclerc.
That wider picture matters. McLaren and Red Bull have shown flashes of pace, but neither has won a Grand Prix in 2026. The battle at the front has become a contest between a dominant Mercedes team and a Ferrari operation that is improving quickly.
Hamilton has protected his position through regular scoring. Podiums and strong finishes have kept him ahead of Russell and Leclerc while several other contenders have slipped away from the title discussion.
Still, steady points will not be enough on their own. Hamilton needs more victories, and Ferrari must turn promising weekends into complete ones.
Silverstone and Spa showed that the car could challenge Mercedes on very different layouts. Both weekends also left Ferrari wondering whether cleaner execution might have produced stronger results.
Hungary Put Ferrari’s Progress On Display
Friday offered the clearest evidence yet that Ferrari could carry its momentum into Budapest.
Hamilton recorded a time of 1 minute and 18.729 seconds in second practice. Leclerc finished 0.148 seconds behind, while Lando Norris trailed Hamilton by 0.499 seconds in third.
Mercedes looked far less settled.
Antonelli missed the opening session as reserve driver Frederik Vesti took over his car. Once the championship leader returned for second practice, he repeatedly fought the rear brakes and ran wide.
One flying lap disappeared because of a red flag. Traffic disrupted another attempt, while rear locking made it difficult for Antonelli to build a clean rhythm.
Russell also struggled to place the Mercedes where he wanted it. As the wind increased around the circuit, the car became harder to predict and less stable through the corners.
Sunday is expected to be considerably hotter, with air temperatures reaching about 32 C and the track potentially approaching 50 C. Significant rain interference remains unlikely, but wind gusts could reach between 35 and 40 kilometres per hour. Those conditions could make rear locking, tyre management and an unstable balance even more costly for Mercedes.
Ferrari presented the opposite picture on Friday. Hamilton looked composed, carried speed through the technical sections and completed his laps without the visible corrections troubling the Mercedes drivers.
Practice pace can mislead. Fuel loads, tyre plans and engine settings remain unknown. Even so, the contrast between the teams was difficult to ignore.
Antonelli Still Controls The Championship
Antonelli can survive a difficult Hungarian Grand Prix and remain firmly in control of the standings. Hamilton does not have the same freedom.
Every missed opportunity increases the pressure on Ferrari. Strategy calls, qualifying execution and pit work must all match the improving speed of the car.
Hungary gives Hamilton an ideal place to apply pressure. He holds the circuit records with 8 victories and 9 pole positions. Few drivers understand the rhythm and demands of the Hungaroring better.
Hamilton is also realistic enough to know he is not the favourite yet. Mercedes has won 80 per cent of the races this season and remains the strongest team across the full calendar.
Ferrari, however, has changed the conversation. At the end of 2025, Hamilton was trying to survive difficult qualifying sessions. Less than 1 year later, he is leading practice and discussing an eighth world championship.
Mercedes still controls the title race. Hamilton finally has the car, confidence and momentum to make that lead feel far less secure.
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FAQs
Can Lewis Hamilton win the 2026 F1 championship?
Hamilton remains in contention because he sits second in the standings. Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli still hold a significant advantage.
How far behind Kimi Antonelli is Lewis Hamilton?
Hamilton trails Antonelli by 45 points entering the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
How many podiums has Lewis Hamilton scored in 2026?
Hamilton has recorded 5 podiums through the opening 10 rounds, including his first Ferrari Grand Prix victory in Barcelona.
Why did Ferrari look strong in Hungary?
Hamilton and Leclerc finished first and second in FP2. The SF26 appeared more settled than the Mercedes in the windy conditions.
What is Lewis Hamilton’s record at the Hungaroring?
Hamilton holds the circuit records with 8 victories and 9 pole positions at the Hungaroring.
