Hamilton Proud of Turnaround at Hungary One Year After 'Useless' Remark

One year after calling himself "useless" following a Q2 exit in Hungary, Lewis Hamilton returns to the Hungaroring second in the 2026 championship and buoyed by his first win in nearly two years at Barcelona. The 41-year-old has credited the 2026 regulation switch and a Ferrari built around his input for a dramatic turnaround that has positioned the Scuderia as Mercedes' nearest challenger.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's resurgence is critical to Ferrari's title hopes. After a 2025 season that exposed his struggles with ground-effect cars and led him to suggest his own replacement, he is proving that an adapted car and renewed confidence can still produce elite results against championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

The details:

• Hamilton trails Antonelli by 45 points after 10 rounds, with Ferrari claiming two victories against Mercedes in 2026.
• The Briton feels "worlds away" from his 2025 mindset, teasing that a future documentary will reveal the full story behind his Budapest collapse.
• Charles Leclerc cautioned that execution matters more than theoretical pace, pointing to Monaco as a weekend where Ferrari failed to capitalize on favourable track characteristics despite the SF-26's strengths in slow-speed corners.

What's next:

The Hungaroring layout should suit the SF-26, giving Hamilton a chance to add to his record eight wins at the venue. However, Ferrari must nail the setup window to challenge Mercedes in qualifying and keep its faint championship hopes alive.