Hamilton Back as F1 2026 Title Contender, Fans Believe

Five years of frustration, false dawns, and uncompetitive machinery are finally turning around. Lewis Hamilton finds himself in a position he has not occupied for half a decade: a realistic title fight.

Since that fateful night in Abu Dhabi 2021, when a record-breaking eighth F1 drivers' championship slipped through his fingers in the most controversial of circumstances, Hamilton has not been a genuine contender. In the seasons that followed, he endured Mercedes' struggles with ground-effect regulations, then navigated a difficult adaptation to life at Ferrari in 2025.

But 2026 has changed the picture entirely. Sitting second in the drivers' standings on 169 points after 11 rounds, Hamilton trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 50 points. He has scored points in every grand prix, never finishing lower than sixth, and added a long-awaited victory in Barcelona to go with four further podiums.

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With Ferrari's SF-26 proving competitive under the new regulations, the 41-year-old finally has the tools to chase the elusive crown. The season resumes at Zandvoort on August 23, and the question is whether Hamilton can truly clinch an eighth title.

An overwhelming majority of fans surveyed believe he is firmly in the fight. A massive 82.67 percent think Hamilton can vanquish the demons of the past few years and flirt with F1 history, while only 17.33 percent believe Antonelli, who has been brilliant with six wins from 11 rounds, has the championship sewn up.

With 11 or 12 weekends still to run, everything remains possible. The pressure is now on Hamilton to prove that public backing is not just empty hope.