Lewis Hamilton is chasing a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 World Championship in 2026. After remaining on seven world titles since 2020, the Ferrari driver has his best opportunity in years to reclaim the drivers’ championship. Ferrari’s recent surge in performance has fueled speculation that Hamilton can close the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli and mount a legitimate title challenge. Does the seven-time world champion truly have what it takes to capture an unprecedented eighth Formula One championship? Here’s a closer look at Hamilton’s title chances and what must happen for him to make history.
Hamilton came into the 2026 F1 season with zero expectations of competing for the driver’s championship. If the question were to be asked to him right now, if he thinks he has a chance, he’d probably say absolutely not. That’s just him being modest.
Hamilton absolutely has an opportunity to reach the mountain top again in 2026. He currently sits third in the drivers’ championship, seven points behind George Russell and 32 points behind Antonelli.
Hamilton won his first Grand Prix with Ferrari in Spain on June 14th. This victory was in the midst of a great run of finishes. He has been on the podium in four of his last five Grand Prixs.
The form of Hamilton indicates that he is here for the moment. The form of Ferrari shows that they can help back that up. Teammate Charles Leclerc was victorious at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix. The entire team is on a heater right now. If a championship battle ensues, who else would you want other than Hamilton?
Mercedes has been dominant in every category this season. From qualifying to race pace, they’ve controlled the way. The one thing they haven’t had is consistency and reliability. If they had any sort of that, this wouldn’t be a conversation about Hamilton.
Antonelli has finished outside of the points in two of the three races following his five-race win streak. Russell has not had much better luck, going on a similar streak earlier in the season. He has since rebounded into three consecutive podiums, closing the gap to his younger teammate in the driver’s championship.
The reliability of the Mercedes will be the main thing that determines this championship battle. The irony is strong there, as Ferrari is typically the team facing the criticism from fans due to inconsistency from all directions. If they can keep everything in order, this is a legit race with Mercedes, who have shown no signs of consistency.
Hamilton has closed the points gap in the driver’s championship in a major way over the past few weeks. The seven-time champion has driven with consistency and has been backed by the reliability of the Ferrari. The driver’s championship standing will be something to keep an eye on after every Grand Prix is completed. If the form continues, Hamilton has a legit chance at winning world championship number eight.
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