When the 2026 season first started, it almost seemed certain that one of the Mercedes drivers would take the Championship at the end of the year. But 12 races through, there are a couple of other drivers who could stand a chance at the title. One of them being Lewis Hamilton.
At the start of the season, there was no question that Ferrari was well behind Mercedes. But as the weeks have passed, the Italian Constructor seems to be winning the development race. Ferrari has also been much more consistent than the Silver Arrows.
Should Ferrari favor Lewis Hamilton for the Championship?
As it stands, Lewis Hamilton is currently tied with George Russell for 2nd place with 183 points each. Kimi Antonelli leads the standings by 59 points. The other Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, currently sits in 5th place with 155 points.
2026 Drivers’ Standings
Full table →| # | Driver | Team | Wins | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kimi AntonelliANT | Mercedes | 8 | 302 |
| 2 |  George RussellRUS | Mercedes | 3 | 236 |
| 3 |  Lewis HamiltonHAM | Ferrari | 1 | 199 |
| 4 |  Lando NorrisNOR | McLaren | 2 | 186 |
| 5 |  Charles LeclercLEC | Ferrari | 1 | 179 |
Although Leclerc technically has a shot at the Championship, the reality is that Hamilton has a much better chance with just 12 more races left on the calendar. Given that Mercedes is still stronger than the prancing horses, Hamilton will need every tool the team has to compete against both the Mercedes driver. Having Leclerc support his teammate rather than fight will increase Hamilton's chances.
Ferrari has not won a Championship since Kimi Raikkonen won in 2007. This is the team's longest Championship drought. Hence, they will be desperate to get out of this hole they've dug themselves in. Given how well Hamilton has been performing so far, Ferrari needs to give him every chance to battle against Antonelli and Russell for the title.
Ferrari upgrades could change the game
There is no doubt that Ferrari will be bringing more upgrades as the season goes on. The rumour is that they will be bringing a large update to the power unit for the next race in Monza, potentially giving them an additional 16 hp on the straights.
Mercedes team principal has already stated that they won't be able to develop their Mercedes W17 much because of the cost cap. Ferrari has reported no such issues, so we could see them win the development race to help Lewis Hamilton win his 8th Championship, ending the team's Championship drought.
