Hamilton opens up on Ferrari's regurgance for the current season

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari’s resurgence in 2026 is the product of a highly motivated team that has rediscovered its “north star” — a clear development direction that was missing last year.

Speaking ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, the seven‑time world champion reflected on the team’s progress, the impact of Ferrari’s new power unit, and the mindset required to challenge Mercedes over the long haul.

Hamilton and Ferrari arrive in Spielberg sitting second in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings, a position that reflects the team’s steady upward trajectory since the start of the season. For Hamilton, the transformation is rooted in collective effort and a renewed sense of purpose.

“I think the opportunity is there, but it’s one thing being there and it’s another thing galvanising the troops and developing,” he said. “You can hit plateaus in terms of development, so all we can do is take it one day at a time, and all we can do is really continue to bring everything.”

Hamilton highlighted the contribution of every department at Maranello: “Everyone brings something to the team and everyone back at the factory is working so hard. They see what’s possible, and when you see what’s possible, it’s a north star, you know that’s the direction we need to go.”

“Whether the team has had that for a while, I’m not sure, but last year we didn’t really have a north star, and this year we have it. This year, everyone is doubling down, everyone is putting that extra bit of work in even more than before.”

Ferrari’s latest power unit, introduced under the ADUO mechanism, arrives in Austria as another incremental step in the Scuderia’s development push. Hamilton welcomed the upgrade but remained realistic about its impact.

“I think it’s starting to show, and the stuff coming this weekend, we do have a new engine. It’s a step, not the whole gap, but it’s a step. It’s one foot forwards, which I’m really proud and thankful for.”

Despite Ferrari’s momentum, Hamilton was clear about the scale of the challenge ahead.

“Still, Mercedes are the team to beat, they’ve won everything else and they’ve been just incredible this year – a great car, an amazing team, a World Championship team.

"So, we have a real battle on our hands, and it’s going to take everyone for the rest of the year to even come close to competing with them, but I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Hamilton was also asked about the dramatic shift in public perception — from speculation about retirement to renewed belief in his pursuit of a record‑breaking eighth world title.

“It’s been crazy to see the flip and people changing their minds from the things they were saying previously,” he said. “I don’t really take much notice of that. I think what I’ve seen, and most importantly for me, is the love from the fans and how people experienced it with me. That meant a lot.”

But he stressed that championship talk is premature: “In terms of the championship, I’m not letting that stuff... I’ve been here before. I know what I have to do, and there’s a long way to go.

"We’re not arriving at this weekend thinking about the championship, we’re thinking about this weekend, executing the best we can," Hamilton continued.

“I think you saw Fred’s comments, because I guess everyone gets excited by this. It’s about, ‘Calm down, feet on the ground, let’s keep doing our due diligence, let’s make sure we keep executing’.”

“There are no shortcuts to success. We all bring something to the table in the team, and I’m so proud of how hard they’re all working. We’ve just got to keep going, keep levelling up. That’s what I’m here to try and do.”