Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has made it clear that he \u201creally believes we can fight\u201d for the 2026 title and feels \u201cmore focused than ever\u201d, with the Briton looking to continue his competitive second campaign at the team in Hungary this weekend.<\/p>\n
After a difficult start to life in red last year, Hamilton<\/a> is enjoying a new lease of life with the Scuderia, having made several changes behind the scenes over the winter<\/a> and gelled with F1\u2019s new generation of cars.<\/p>\n Indeed, following his podium-less 2025, the seven-time World Champion has five rostrums from the opening 10 rounds this season, including his first Grand Prix win for Ferrari<\/a> at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last month.<\/p>\n Arriving at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which marks the final round before the sport\u2019s annual summer break, Hamilton sits second in the Drivers\u2019 Championship<\/a> standings on 159 points, 45 behind Mercedes<\/a> rival Kimi Antonelli<\/a>.<\/p>\n Asked about his chances of winning around the Hungaroring, where he has claimed pole position a record nine times and victory a record eight times, Hamilton said: \u201cI don\u2019t want to make assumptions. We went to a couple of races\u2026 I mean we ultimately should have won the last two races, I think, if we perfected the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Silverstone, the car was capable of winning, and then in Spa, we were a lot more competitive than we thought, so I think I missed something on that weekend. That\u2019s something I don\u2019t want to do this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve got a car that can compete. Mercedes is still the car to beat, and they won\u2019t be easy to beat this weekend, but I do think we\u2019ve made subtle progress. Hopefully we can be fighting with them this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n Pushed on how good it feels to be in the mix for the title, Hamilton added: \u201cIt\u2019s amazing. It\u2019s a great feeling. Especially if you look at the contrast of where we were last year here.<\/p>\n \u201cFor one, I\u2019m really proud of the team, of the step we\u2019ve taken collectively, and then I have to always acknowledge my own efforts, the work that I\u2019ve put in and the changes that I\u2019ve made to enable us to be where we are. I\u2019m really proud of myself for that.<\/p>\n \u201cStill a lot of work to do, still a mountain to climb in the second half of the season, but I\u2019m more focused than ever and really believe that we can fight.\u201d<\/p>\n