Lewis Hamilton confident Ferrari can fight for 2026 F1 title ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton says he believes Ferrari can challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship after the team's strong progress during the opening half of the season.
The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a much stronger campaign after a difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton praised the work done by the Scuderia while insisting there is still more to come.
"It's amazing," said the seven-time world champion.
"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."
Ferrari still pushing for more
Ferrari have claimed two victories and several podium finishes this season, leaving them firmly in the battle at the front with Mercedes.
Hamilton stressed the team cannot afford to slow its development despite the encouraging results.
"We are continuing to develop, we are continuing to push," Hamilton explained.
"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."
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Hamilton targeting another strong weekend
Looking ahead to Budapest, Hamilton believes Ferrari has the pace to challenge again but admitted the team must execute a cleaner race weekend.
"I don't want to make assumptions," he 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."
Catch all the action from the Hungarian GP weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26.
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