Lewis Hamilton suggested his experience could benefit him in a possible 2026 Formula 1 title battle as he urged his Ferrari team to keep pushing to challenge Mercedes.
At the previous round in Barcelona, the seven-time world champion claimed his first victory for Ferrari to reduce Kimi Antonelli’s lead over him at the top of the drivers’ standings to 41 points, ending Mercedes’ streak of six successive wins to start the season.
The result has heightened excitement around the possibility of Hamilton mounting a challenge for a record eighth title, with his bid to resume at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton said: “In terms of the championship, I’m not letting that stuff… I’ve been here before, I know what I have to do.
“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.”
Ferrari are hopeful of a further boost this weekend from the implementation of their first engine upgrade of 2026, having been given the opportunity to close the gap on Red Bull and Mercedes, who were both adjudged to have strong performing power units.
Hamilton added: “This weekend we do have a new engine. It’s a step, it’s not the whole gap, but it’s a step, it’s one foot forwards, which I’m really proud and thankful for.
George Russell says former team-mate Hamilton is ‘a big threat’ to Mercedes and that it feels like Ferrari are ‘coming’
“Still Mercedes are the team to beat, they’ve won everything else and they’ve been just incredible this year. They’ve got a great car, it’s an amazing team – a world championship team.
“We have a real battle on our hands and it’s going to take absolutely everyone full hands-on deck for the rest of the year to even come close to competing with them, but I don’t think it’s impossible.”
Hamilton admits surprise at ‘special’ reaction from rivals
Hamilton’s first victory for Ferrari came after a hugely disappointing first season with the team following his arrival from Mercedes, during which he failed to score a grand prix podium.
He has started 2026, following the introduction of new regulations, in far better form, and claimed successive second-place finishes before surging to victory in Spain.
The 41-year-old’s win unsurprisingly drew great enthusiasm from the sport’s followers, but Hamilton admitted he was surprised by the warmth of reaction from his rivals on the grid.
See how the grid came together to celebrate Hamilton’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix win
“I wasn’t expecting that, for sure,” Hamilton said. “It was really appreciated because ultimately, I have so much respect for all the drivers that show up every weekend, experience the highs and lows, the criticism, the positives, and they still continue to show up with a brave face and do what they do to the best of their ability.
“We’re competitors and we all want to beat each other on track, and none of us are happy with not finishing ahead of the other.
“We have GPDA [Grand Prix Drivers’ Association] as a tightknit group of drivers, more close than I would imagine any other generation, at least in the last 20 years. It was really special to see the support from them.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix
Friday June 26
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.30pm: Team bosses’ press conference
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Austrian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday June 27
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Austrian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: AUSTRIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 28
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Austrian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Austrian GP reaction: Chequered Flag
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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