Lewis Hamilton’s second place end on the Monaco Grand Prix strikes him to the very best place within the F1 World Championship from 2021 onwards.
Hamilton endured a horrible debut season for Ferrari in 2025, struggling the primary podium-less season in his illustrious 18-year F1 profession and ending 86 factors behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
However the 41-year-old Briton is at present having fun with one thing of a resurgence following F1’s main regulation adjustments for 2026. Hamilton has made his greatest begin to the season since 2021 with three podiums within the opening six races.
Hamilton rises to second place in world championship
Hamilton secured his second consecutive second place in Monaco on Sunday, placing him two factors forward of former Mercedes teammate George Russell and shifting him into second place within the drivers’ championship, 66 factors behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The rejuvenated seven-time world champion believes Ferrari’s first win “could not have been nearer” and is using on a newfound confidence and momentum not seen lately.
Hamilton stated: “I am unable to imagine I am second within the championship. I am actually pleased and grateful. With out this staff and our confidence it would not have been doable.”
“It is nonetheless early within the season so we have now to maintain chasing it. In life you possibly can say it is simpler to alter than to guard. So whereas they’re at a really excessive degree we’ll preserve pushing and preserve chasing them. We’ll undoubtedly get there at some stage.”
Hamilton might not but be enamored with the thought of having the ability to problem for an elusive record-breaking eighth world title, however he supplied a well timed reminder to those that doubt him, together with himself.
Throughout his disastrous 2025 marketing campaign, Hamilton even appeared to lose religion in his skills on the worst moments. At one level he requested a driver change from Ferrari as self-confidence gave the impression to be creeping in.
The 2026 F1 automotive will go well with Hamilton a lot better
Hamilton skilled a much-needed break over the winter, abandoning despair for a optimistic restart at Ferrari. The distinction between 2026 and 2025 Hamilton couldn’t be higher.
“Final yr we stated we wished our followers to recollect who they’re and now we have now to return out each weekend and check out to do this,” he stated.
“And I believe it is nice to see the rejuvenated love throughout the staff and their religion in me and them hiring everybody, together with me, so I am very pleased.”
The transition from a floor results automotive to a extra agile machine allowed Hamilton to reset. This, mixed with a reshuffle of the engineering staff, together with a change in race engineer, led to Hamilton’s breakthrough, permitting him to lastly really feel at residence with a Ferrari automotive that higher suited his pure driving model.
Consequently, his efficiency in opposition to Leclerc improved considerably. Final season, Hamilton confirmed indicators of his previous, dropping fully to Leclerc. They’re at present tied at a 3-3 impasse in qualifying, however Hamilton has a 4-2 lead within the head-to-head competitors on race day.
The 41-year-old’s performances this season have gone some method to dispelling the notion that the Briton is “washed up”, highlighting his unimaginable longevity in comparison with Leclerc, who is taken into account by many to be on the peak of his profession and maybe the quickest driver in a single lap.
Hamilton paid tribute to Ferrari staff boss Fred Vasseur, who was his boss throughout his title-winning GP2 marketing campaign in 2006 and was instrumental in signing Hamilton to Ferrari and serving to rebuild him.
“Fred has been nice supporting me,” he stated. “Final yr was a extremely, actually robust yr for us. I begged him to make some type of adjustments (to the staff and the automotive) and he did it and he did it. And now I am seeing the fruits of that and eventually having the ability to contribute to them.”
Hamilton acknowledges Vasseur’s help
Regardless of Hamilton’s bounce again, this yr’s world championship feels extra like a dream than a actuality. Mercedes are unbeaten till 2026 and maintain a transparent benefit over their rivals.
Hamilton acknowledges this and is effectively conscious that Ferrari should do an enormous quantity of labor to overhaul Mercedes, not to mention overtake them.
“Their (Mercedes) efficiency is subsequent degree,” Hamilton admitted. “So, it was a great expertise since you get a greater concept of the place we have to lean the staff and enhance, not solely from what I really feel, but in addition from what I see. And, yeah, there’s quite a lot of issues that we have now to deal with.
“Simply the final efficiency. When it comes to downforce, clearly they’re higher than us. And clearly the facility. For us right here, energy is not actually a problem. It is simply downforce.”
“They have been night time and day completely different from us, simply wanting on the traction. Hopefully we are able to put in some efficiency and so they’re again on the manufacturing facility working exhausting so I hope they’re pleased with this end result.”
Nonetheless, Hamilton insisted: “It is nonetheless early within the season so we simply need to preserve chasing it. I believe it is really simpler to chase it than to defend it.”
“They’re very quick and a terrific staff, however we’ll preserve pushing and preserve chasing and I’ve little doubt that we’ll get there at some stage.”
Hamilton has had his greatest begin to a season since 2021
One of many components thought to work in Ferrari’s favor because it sought to cut back its deficit with Mercedes was F1’s new Extra Improvement and Improve Alternatives (ADUOs).
Ferrari will profit from two engine upgrades this yr and two subsequent season. Nonetheless, the information that Pink Bull was judged to be the benchmark energy unit got here as a shock to the F1 paddock.
Which means that not solely Ferrari but in addition Mercedes shall be allowed to improve this season. This can be a large blow for Ferrari, because the engine, extensively thought-about to be the perfect on the grid, has the potential for additional enhancements.
“Pink Bull has probably the most highly effective engine, Mercedes is second and we (Ferrari) are behind them,” Hamilton informed Sky Sports activities F1.
“We have now these tokens to develop and shut the hole. Nevertheless it’s extra like an 8-10 month mission, so it is not one thing we are able to simply do subsequent week. We will work exhausting to see how we are able to shut the hole.”
It might be too early to assume that Hamilton is in any sensible title competition, however there isn’t any doubt that he’s in a happier place and statistically nearer to the extent you’ll anticipate from an all-time nice.
