Second in the championship behind Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton still believes in Ferrari’s chances to overturn Mercedes. The Briton believes that the Scuderia now has a harmony and passion that he wants to harness in the race for titles.
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Lewis Hamilton approaches the second half of the 2026 season with a clear ambition: to bring Ferrari back to the top of Formula 1.
After eleven Grands Prix, the seven-time world champion holds the second place in the drivers’ championship, 50 points behind Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari, on the other hand, is 72 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ standings.
The gap remains significant, but the season is still long and reliability could play a decisive role. Mercedes notably dropped several important points during the first half of the campaign due to problems encountered with its power unit.
Hamilton especially believes that Ferrari now has much stronger foundations than when he arrived in Maranello in 2025.
Hamilton sees a much more united Ferrari
The Briton’s first season in red was particularly difficult. Beyond his performance problems, Hamilton had to learn to work in a new environment after twelve years spent at Mercedes.
This long adaptation period now seems behind him.
“It has been a very good first part of the season. It’s positive, even if, obviously, it could still be better”, admits Lewis Hamilton.
The Briton especially emphasizes the evolution of relationships within Ferrari.
“There is really a positive feeling. The harmony between me, my personal team and the race team is better than it has ever been.”
After more than a year spent in Maranello, Hamilton considers that everyone now understands each other’s expectations much better.
“It took us a good year to get to know each other and we are more aligned than ever. I think this is a very good foundation on which we can build for the future.”
“Galvanizing the troops” to catch up with Mercedes
This better understanding does not, however, mean that Ferrari already has all the necessary ingredients to beat Mercedes.
Hamilton believes that a lot of work remains to be done during the second half of the championship.
“There is still a huge amount of work to do and many things to improve, especially to galvanize the troops, who are all so passionate.”
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The seven-time world champion especially wants to use his experience from victorious campaigns with Mercedes to help Ferrari manage the pressure of a championship fight.
Hamilton won six of his seven drivers’ titles with the German team and knows perfectly the requirements needed to stay competitive throughout a season.
Hamilton impressed by the passion at Ferrari
Since his arrival in Maranello, one element has particularly struck the Briton: the employees’ attachment to Ferrari.
“At the factory, I have never seen such love for a team nor such passion for it”, says Hamilton.
An exceptional fervor that is a strength, but which must also be properly harnessed according to him.
“It’s simply about channeling this passion and directing it in the right way.”
Hamilton thus seems to want to take on a role far beyond that of the driver responsible for performing on track. His goal is also to help structure and unite the team around a common project.
Ferrari pursues a title that has eluded it since 2008
The pressure is all the greater as the wait is starting to become particularly long in Maranello.
Ferrari’s last drivers’ title dates back to 2007 with Kimi Räikkönen, while the Scuderia has not won the constructors’ championship since 2008.
The 2026 season nevertheless offers a real opportunity. Ferrari has gradually reduced its gap after a championship start largely dominated by Mercedes and has already won two of the last five Grands Prix before the summer break.
Hamilton himself has found the path to victory this season and appears as the best-placed Ferrari driver in the championship.
With 50 points to make up on Antonelli and a Mercedes that has shown some signs of vulnerability in terms of reliability, the mission remains difficult but far from impossible.
For Hamilton, the key will now be to turn the exceptional passion he observes in Maranello into collective efficiency. After a year needed to understand Ferrari, the Briton now wants to help lead it to the title.
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