Hamilton: I really believe we can fight for 2026 title

Lewis Hamilton says he 'really believes' Ferrari can enable him to fight for an eighth world championship title this season.

Hamilton is second in the standings, 45 points behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli going into this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix - the 11th of the season's 22 currently-scheduled rounds.

It's the first time Hamilton has been in title contention since he was contentiously edged out by Max Verstappen in 2021, and the 41-year-old says he is loving being back in the mix.

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"It's amazing," said Hamilton, who has impressed in 2026 following a difficult first campaign with Ferrari.

"It's a great feeling, especially when you look at the contrast of where we were last year here.

"I'm really proud of the team for the curve and step we have taken collectively and I have to always acknowledge my own efforts and the work I've put in and the changes I've made to enable us to be where we are and I'm really proud of 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."

Despite Antonelli's superb form, Hamilton is insisting that the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the sport's summer break, is not make or break for his hopes of chasing down the 19-year-old Italian.

"We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push," Hamilton said. "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.

"This is just the time for us to continue to hammer down and continue to double down on our development and continue 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 still the car to beat in Hungary'

Ferrari have been touted by some as favourites at the Hungaroring due to an expectation the characteristics of their car will be suited to the circuit.

Ferrari have generally been unable to match the performance of the Mercedes power unit, but the high number of slow corners in Budapest should theoretically make the deficiency less of an issue.

Despite that, Hamilton is taking nothing for granted, and insists Mercedes remain the 'car to beat'.

"I don't want to make assumptions," Hamilton said. "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 were more competitive than we thought and I missed something on that weekend and that's not what I want to do this weekend.

"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.

"But we have made subtle progress and hopefully can fight 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 with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime