Lewis Hamilton has firmly rejoined the fight for the Formula 1 title in 2026. Following his victory at the Barcelona Grand Prix, fans’ confidence in a historic eighth championship for the British driver rose markedly, according to a survey conducted by RacingNews365.
The survey showed that 68.45% of participants consider Hamilton a real title contender this season. Only 31.55% of voters do not believe that the Ferrari driver has what it takes to beat his rivals in the championship battle.
Optimism surrounding the Brit gained momentum after his win in Spain. The result ended a long drought of victories and his first with Ferrari, and reduced the gap to the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, to 41 points, reestablishing Hamilton in a prominent position in the standings.
With a large portion of the 24 races of the season still to come, the deficit to the young Italian driver is seen as manageable. Moreover, Ferrari’s recent performance reinforced the perception that Hamilton has a car capable of regularly contesting the top positions.
The SF-26 has shown progress and granted the seven-time champion conditions he hadn’t found in his recent years with Mercedes, and especially in 2025, in his first year with Ferrari. The victory in Spain also served as proof that when he feels comfortable with the machinery, Hamilton remains one of the strongest competitors on the grid.
Despite the fans’ enthusiasm, not everyone is convinced that the title will be possible. Those with doubts point mainly to Antonelli’s excellent form, who has been one of the season’s big highlights so far.
With nineteen years old, the Mercedes driver leads the championship and shows no signs of fading. His consistency through the early stages has been one of the main obstacles for any rival aiming to catch him in the standings.
Beyond the challenge posed by Antonelli, Hamilton also has to deal with strong competition from other names in the title fight. His teammate Charles Leclerc and George Russell appear as important rivals, in a season that shapes up as an intense four-way battle for the top positions. With Ferrari on the rise and the gap to the lead reduced, fans’ belief in an eighth title for Hamilton has never been stronger than it is now in 2026.
