Hamilton Focuses on Ferrari's Second Place Instead of the Championship

Lewis Hamilton has accepted that the Formula 1 drivers' championship is out of his reach this season. He has now turned his focus to Ferrari securing second place in the constructors' standings. If Ferrari achieves this, it will have significantly surpassed its fourth-place finish from last year.

Five races remain on the 2026 calendar, the first of which is this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix. Hamilton is third in the drivers' standings with 241 points, just one point ahead of Mercedes' George Russell. Leader Kimi Antonelli is closing in on the title with 365 points. Hamilton does not see overtaking Russell as a priority.

Hamilton spoke clearly about the championship. He said that second place does not interest him and that his only goal is the title. He then spoke on behalf of the team, stating that his main priority is to secure second place for Ferrari.

Hamilton spent 12 years at Mercedes, winning six world championships during that period. When he joined Ferrari last year, his goal was to return the Cavallino Rampante to the top. The team finished 2025 in fourth place. Hamilton said that the energy is higher this season and that everyone is enjoying themselves.

Ferrari is second in the standings, 119 points ahead of Red Bull and McLaren. Strong performances over the last three races have contributed to this result. Hamilton finished third in Bahrain, while Leclerc stood on the podium in Singapore and the United States. Ferrari's last drivers' championship came in 2007 with Kimi Räikkönen, and its last constructors' championship came in 2008. After Mexico City, the calendar includes races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.