Lewis Hamilton expressed strong confidence in his ability to contend for an eighth world championship title with Ferrari this season. As he heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix—the 11th round of the 2026 season—Hamilton sits second in the standings, trailing Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 45 points.

Hamilton, who last found himself in title contention in 2021, emphasized his excitement about being back in the competitive mix. "It's amazing... I'm really proud of the team for the curve and step we have taken collectively," he stated, acknowledging both his personal efforts and the team's progress since last year.

Despite acknowledging the challenge posed by Antonelli's strong performance, Hamilton remains optimistic. He noted that the Hungarian GP isn't a decisive point in the championship race:

• "We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push... I don't see this one or the next one as a break point."
• Hamilton highlighted the importance of ongoing development and consistency in competing for victories against Mercedes.

As for the track itself, Ferrari has been labeled as potential favorites due to the circuit's characteristics, which may favor their car's performance. However, Hamilton is cautious, asserting that Mercedes remains the "car to beat" despite their recent improvements.

I don't want to make assumptions... We have got a car that can compete. I think Mercedes still have the car to beat.

With the weekend's schedule packed with events leading up to the race, Hamilton's focus remains on maximizing performance and continuing to close the gap on the championship leader.