Lewis Hamilton has produced one of the most remarkable resurgences in Formula 1 history, scoring 159 points in the first 10 races of the 2026 season — already eclipsing his entire 2025 tally of 156 points across 24 rounds.
The seven-time world champion endured a nightmare debut season with Ferrari in 2025, failing to register a single Grand Prix podium for the first time in his illustrious 20-year career. He ended that campaign with three consecutive Q1 eliminations, looking dejected and lost.
But following a crucial winter reset, Hamilton has transformed his fortunes in spectacular fashion. A fourth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps lifted him to second in the drivers' championship on 159 points, confirming his statistical turnaround.
Hamilton has already collected five podium finishes in 2026, headlined by a dominant victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — his first win in Ferrari red — where he inflicted Mercedes' first defeat of the season. The 41-year-old Briton has also recorded top-six finishes in every race, with his lowest result being sixth place in both Japan and Miami. He remains the only driver on the grid to have completed every single racing lap this season.
His qualifying performances have sharpened noticeably. Hamilton trails teammate Charles Leclerc 6-4 in qualifying head-to-heads, but leads 6-4 on race day. He has not qualified lower than seventh since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and took his best grid slot of the year — second place — at Barcelona.
Hamilton has credited ditching Ferrari's simulator as the breakthrough behind his resurgence. "I tried all last year with it, but as I said, when I was at Mercedes for the first few years I didn't use it," he explained ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. "I found all last year particularly that was the case, and then in previous years when I was at Mercedes it was very similar, so that's why I didn't use it. Since I stopped, my performance has gone much, much better."
Now second in the standings, Hamilton trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) by 45 points. With 14 races still remaining and the Hungarian Grand Prix — a venue where Hamilton holds the record for most wins (eight) — up next, the Briton has every reason to believe his first Ferrari championship challenge is alive.
"We have to come and fight for that win," Hamilton said ahead of Budapest.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1101530/1/incredible-lewis-hamilton-f1-stat-proves-his-ferrari-revival-real
