Hamilton: Ferrari must 'get the most out of' title fight as he targets second

Lewis Hamilton has revealed his approach to the remainder of the 2026 title fight, insisting Ferrari must "get the most out of" every weekend as they aim to secure second in the standings and chase Mercedes in the constructors' championship.

The seven-time champion took his maiden Ferrari win in Barcelona, but the team hasn't finished on the podium since Belgium. That has allowed Lando Norris and Max Verstappen to close the gap, leaving Hamilton third in the drivers' standings — five points ahead of Norris and 101 behind leader Kimi Antonelli.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's optimism comes amid a difficult stretch for Ferrari, who have struggled with consistency and execution despite strong upgrades. With McLaren and Red Bull closing in, holding second in both championships would represent significant progress for the Scuderia after a winless 2025.

The details:

• Hamilton acknowledged the gap to Antonelli: "He is 101 points ahead of me. In two races he gained 40-odd points. We've been working hard to gain a couple here and there, so there's still a long way to go."
• Constructors' fight: "I think the focus for me is to hold on to second, if not somehow catch Mercedes for the constructors' — that would be remarkable."
• He pointed to the positives: "We've been fighting. We've had wins and podiums. The team have done an incredible job bringing upgrades."
• Leclerc's Baku challenge: Charles Leclerc, who has four poles but no wins in Baku, refused to confirm whether he'll take a grid penalty for a new power unit. "Kimi went from last to first in Italy. I don't know if that's realistic for us," he said.

What's next:

Hamilton called Baku "a really fun rollercoaster ride," while Leclerc stressed the importance of qualifying. With Ferrari's engine pool now available, a strong result could help the team edge closer to Mercedes — and keep the chasing pack at bay.