Lewis Hamilton's resurgence in Formula 1 has been nothing short of remarkable, and his recent performance at the Belgian Grand Prix has only added fuel to the fire. Despite a messy weekend that included a crash in final practice, qualifying and finishing behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, and a penalty for a crash with George Russell, Hamilton emerged from the race second in the championship, trailing Kimi Antonelli by just 45 points. This is a significant turnaround for the seven-time champion, who was once written off after a poor performance at the Hungaroring, the scene of his lowest point in a painful first season at Ferrari.
What makes this situation particularly fascinating is the contrast between Hamilton and Russell's stories. While Russell has struggled, with ongoing issues and a forlorn demeanor, Hamilton has answered his critics with a string of impressive performances. A first victory for the Scuderia in Barcelona has been the peak of his resurgence, and the old Hamilton is not lurking far from the surface. But does Hamilton find himself in this position purely because of Russell's struggles? In my opinion, there are several factors at play.
Firstly, Russell's struggles are not solely due to his car's uncompetitiveness. He did not walk into a competitive, race-winning car in his debut season, and his time at Williams was painfully uncompetitive. It was only when he joined Mercedes alongside Hamilton that the team's dominance began to wane. Russell's five victories and numerous podiums between 2022 and 2025 were impressive, but it was not until this year that Mercedes were back in title contention. The fact that Russell is 50 points behind Hamilton, a much younger and more experienced driver, is a testament to Hamilton's consistency and speed.
Secondly, Ferrari's progress has been promising, if not rapid. In the last six races, they have finished first or second five times, including victories for Hamilton and Leclerc. The gap to Mercedes is there, but it is not enormous, and Ferrari's strengths lie in their aerodynamic efficiency, making them quick in the corners. The Hungaroring, with its less power-sensitive nature and a long sequence of corners, should provide Ferrari with one of their best opportunities for victory in 2026. Hamilton has performed exceptionally well at this track, with eight victories, making it a favorable circuit for him.
However, one problem Hamilton faces is that Leclerc has finally overcome his issues, which were costing him time and causing mistakes. In the five races between Japan and Great Britain, Hamilton had the better of Leclerc in qualifying and scored more points. Since then, Leclerc has taken the advantage, and the gap is small, unlike last year. This is a significant development, as it may help Ferrari strategically in races and potentially take points off Russell and Antonelli.
In conclusion, Hamilton's resurgence is not solely due to Russell's struggles. It is a combination of Hamilton's consistency, Ferrari's progress, and the strategic advantage they may gain from Leclerc's improved form. A ninth win at the Hungaroring would solidify Hamilton's credentials for an eighth world championship, and it feels strange to even consider this possibility after his low point at the same track last year. The question remains: can Hamilton disrupt Antonelli enough to cause Mercedes a headache in the second half of the season?
