Lewis Hamilton has already eclipsed his entire 2025 points tally after only 10 rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season, underscoring one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent F1 history.
The seven-time world champion's fourth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps lifted him to 159 points in the drivers' championship — three more than the 156 he managed across all 24 races last year, the worst statistical campaign of his illustrious 20-year career.
After a nightmare debut season with Ferrari in 2025 that yielded no podium finishes and three consecutive Q1 eliminations, Hamilton has rebounded emphatically in his sophomore year in red. He has claimed five podiums so far in 2026, including a maiden victory with the Scuderia at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where he handed Mercedes their first defeat of the season.
The 41-year-old Briton currently sits second in the drivers' standings, 45 points behind championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He is the only driver on the grid to have completed every single racing lap this season, with his lowest finish being sixth place in Japan and Miami.
Hamilton's qualifying form has also sharpened noticeably. He trails teammate Charles Leclerc 6-4 in the Saturday head-to-head but leads the Monegasque by the same margin on race day. His worst grid slot since the season opener in Australia has been seventh, and he secured his best qualifying position of the year — second — at Barcelona.
A key factor behind Hamilton's resurgence, he revealed ahead of the Belgian GP, was abandoning Ferrari's simulator. "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," Hamilton explained. "They can be really powerful and really useful tools, but they can also mislead you. Since I stopped, my performance has gone much, much better."
Attention now turns to the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, a venue where Hamilton holds the record for most wins (eight) and most pole positions (nine). "We have to come and fight for that win," he said.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1101530/1/incredible-lewis-hamilton-f1-stat-proves-his-ferrari-revival-real
