Maiden Ferrari win “could not be nearer”

Lewis Hamilton reckons his maiden victory for Ferrari “couldn’t be nearer” because the 2026 System 1 season has witnessed a rejuvenation from the seven-time world champion.

The 41-year-old endured a torrid debut marketing campaign for the Scuderia in 2025, struggling the primary podium-less season of his 18-year profession to complete 86 factors behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton was dejected all through, even calling for Ferrari to alter its driver at one level, however the 2026 regulation swap to nimbler vehicles was all the time his probability to return to his greatest type.

It marked the primary alternative to develop the automotive to his liking, having not been concerned within the 2025 machine’s growth, and make modifications to his personnel like race engineer.

On account of the modifications, a buoyant Hamilton is now second within the championship after six rounds and is knocking on the door of victory following consecutive runner-up finishes to championship chief Kimi Antonelli.

“It couldn’t be nearer,” mentioned Hamilton after Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. The Briton subsequently isn’t pissed off by the monumental 66-point hole to his Mercedes successor Antonelli, making a record-breaking eighth crown unlikely in 2026.

For now, it’s all about enchancment, and the proof is within the pudding: Hamilton holds a 15-point benefit over Leclerc and is 5-4 up of their qualifying head-to-head – together with sprints – after dropping 23-7 in 2025.

“I can’t consider that I’m second within the championship and I’m actually glad and grateful for that,” added Hamilton, earlier than crediting crew boss Fred Vasseur, who he received the GP2 title with in 2006, for his turnaround.

“I couldn’t have achieved that with out this crew, with out the reliability that we have now, and likewise with Fred. Fred has been superior in supporting me. Final 12 months was actually robust for each of us and [I’ve been] begging him for sure modifications [to his team and car], and he pulled via.

“He did these and now I’m seeing the fruits of that and I’m capable of lastly ship for them. It’s nonetheless very early days within the season, so we simply should preserve chasing. It’s really simpler to chase than it’s to defend, I’d say.

“So, while these guys are very fast and so they’re an incredible crew, we’re going to maintain pushing, preserve chasing, and I’ve little question at some stage we’re going to get there.”

Ought to Hamilton lastly get pleasure from victory once more then it could be his first for the reason that 2024 Belgian Grand Prix – he really crossed the road in second however team-mate George Russell was disqualified. One other victory would convey his tally of wins as much as 106 throughout his legendary profession.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

However to take action he must move his former crew, which has an ideal file this 12 months, aided by its teen star Antonelli whose Monaco victory meant he matched Hamilton’s greatest profession run of 5, consecutive race wins.

“Mercedes clearly have been forward of everyone for fairly a while and we could not match them,” Hamilton advised Sky Sports activities.

“Sadly, he did an exceptional job and I am so grateful that I get to witness him in his second and that is his second. So, I am actually grateful that I may simply be up there and get to share and see that.

“Very, very grateful to my crew as a result of coming from such a horrendous 12 months final 12 months, I am lastly able the place I am reigniting the eagerness and perception that that they had in me once I first joined.

“After a extremely massive droop we had final 12 months, to return again up, it is nice to see the combat in them. They’re doing a improbable job and we have got a variety of work to attempt to shut that hole.”

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