Racing
© fuji.tim
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari is finally delivering the changes he pushed for after a winless, podium-less 2025, and he credits that shift for lifting him to second in the 2026 Formula 1 championship after Monaco.
Hamilton followed his first Ferrari grand prix podium, third in China, with back-to-back second places in Canada and Monaco. That run moved the 41-year-old ahead of both George Russell and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in the standings, although he still trails Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 66 points after the Italian’s five straight wins.
Asked after Monaco how close a first Ferrari victory feels, Hamilton said: “I mean, it couldn’t be closer. But it’s still 66 points. I can’t believe that I’m second in the championship and I’m really happy and thankful for that.”
The turnaround follows a difficult first season at Ferrari in 2025, when Hamilton failed to score a grand prix podium and finished well behind Leclerc. He said that year left him pressing internally for changes to both the car and the way the team worked, and he now believes those requests are starting to pay off.
Speaking after Monaco, Hamilton singled out Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur for helping drive that response. “Fred has been awesome in supporting me,” Hamilton said. “I think last year was really tough for both of us and [I’ve been] begging him for certain changes. He pulled through and he did those, and now I’m seeing the fruits of that and I’m able to finally deliver for them.”
Hamilton also said Ferrari’s progress has come from a stronger technical direction and better execution across the team. He described 2025 as a frustrating period in which he knew what needed to improve but had to wait for development and regulatory timing before those ideas could reach the car. This season, by contrast, he said Ferrari has arrived with innovative solutions and a better collective rhythm, allowing him to focus on delivering.
Even with the recent surge, Hamilton made clear Ferrari is still chasing rather than controlling the championship fight. Mercedes remains the benchmark through Antonelli’s dominant run, and Hamilton said the gap means Ferrari cannot ease off despite climbing to second in the standings.
“It’s still very early days in the season,” he said. “We just have to keep chasing. It’s actually easier to chase than it is to defend. So, whilst these guys are very quick and they’re an amazing team, we’re going to keep pushing, keep chasing, and I have no doubt at some stage we’re going to get there.”