Lewis Hamilton expressed strong confidence in his and Ferrari's ability to contend for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship title. Currently second in the standings, 45 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, Hamilton is enjoying being back in championship contention after being narrowly defeated by Max Verstappen in 2021. He highlighted the team's significant progress from the previous year, taking pride in both collective development and his personal contributions.

Despite the gap, Hamilton emphasized that the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix is not a make-or-break race for his title aspirations. He stated that the team is committed to continuous development and pushing forward throughout the second half of the season. "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," Hamilton noted.

While some predict Ferrari might be favorites at the Hungaroring due to the circuit's characteristics, Hamilton remained pragmatic, acknowledging Mercedes as the "car to beat." He stressed the importance of perfecting every weekend, citing missed opportunities in recent races. "We have got a car that can compete," he concluded, "But we have made subtle progress and hopefully can fight with them this weekend."