Formula 1 Monaco GP
Lewis Hamilton: Maiden Ferrari win "couldn't be closer"
The seven-time world champion is enjoying a much-improved F1 season, crediting team boss Fred Vasseur for his turnaround
Edited: Jun 9, 2026, 9:03 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton reckons his maiden victory for Ferrari “couldn’t be closer” as the 2026 Formula 1 season has witnessed a rejuvenation from the seven-time world champion.
The 41-year-old endured a torrid debut campaign for the Scuderia in 2025, suffering the first podium-less season of his 18-year career to finish 86 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton was dejected throughout, even calling for Ferrari to change its driver at one point, but the 2026 regulation switch to nimbler cars was always his chance to return to his best form.
It marked the first opportunity to develop the car to his liking, having not been involved in the 2025 machine’s development, and make changes to his personnel like race engineer.
Read Also:
As a result of the changes, a buoyant Hamilton is now second in the championship after six rounds and is knocking on the door of victory following consecutive runner-up finishes to championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
“It couldn’t be closer,” said Hamilton after Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. The Briton therefore isn’t frustrated by the monumental 66-point gap to his Mercedes successor Antonelli, making a record-breaking eighth crown unlikely in 2026.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF26
Photo by: Erik Junius
For now, it is all about improvement, and the proof is in the pudding: Hamilton holds a 15-point advantage over Leclerc and is 5-4 up in their qualifying head-to-head - including sprints - after losing 23-7 in 2025.
“I can’t believe that I’m second in the championship and I’m really happy and thankful for that,” added Hamilton, before crediting team boss Fred Vasseur, who he won the GP2 title with in 2006, for his turnaround.
“I couldn’t have done that without this team, without the reliability that we have, and also with Fred. Fred has been awesome in supporting me. Last year was really tough for both of us and [I’ve been] begging him for certain changes [to his team and car], and he pulled through.
“He did those and now I’m seeing the fruits of that and I’m able to finally deliver for them. It’s still very early days in the season, so we just have to keep chasing. It’s actually easier to chase than it is to defend, I would say.
“So, whilst these guys are very quick and they’re an amazing team, we’re going to keep pushing, keep chasing, and I have no doubt at some stage we’re going to get there.”
Should Hamilton finally enjoy victory again then it would be his first since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix - he actually crossed the line in second but team-mate George Russell was disqualified. Another victory would bring his tally of wins up to 106 across his legendary career.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
But to do so he needs to pass his former team, which has a perfect record this year, aided by its teen star Antonelli whose Monaco victory meant he matched Hamilton’s best career run of five, consecutive race wins.
“Mercedes clearly have been ahead of everybody for quite some time and we couldn't match them,” Hamilton told Sky Sports.
“Unfortunately, he did a phenomenal job and I'm so grateful that I get to witness him in his moment and this is his moment. So, I'm really grateful that I could just be up there and get to share and see that.
“Very, very thankful to my team because coming from such a horrendous year last year, I'm finally in a position where I'm reigniting the passion and belief that they had in me when I first joined.
“After a really big slump we had last year, to come back up, it's great to see the fight in them. They're doing a fantastic job and we've got a lot of work to try and close that gap.”
Photos from Monaco GP - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
Formula 1
61
Read Also:
Formula 1Why Monaco magic is still alive and well in F1 2026
Formula 1Red Bull finds cause of Max Verstappen’s DNF, planned engine change after Monaco
Formula 1McLaren admits Mercedes customer team status has become a disadvantage in F1 2026
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Naomi Schiff spots major Charles Leclerc change after Monaco GP frustration
Next article Carlos Sainz hits out at “stupid risks” from F1 rivals: ‘How can a veteran like Nico do this?’
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
16 h
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari tensions with Charles Leclerc are over: "We've squashed it"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
16 h
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari tensions with Charles Leclerc are over: "We've squashed it"
Ferrari hails "emotional" Monza pole in final WEC race for 499P
WEC
WEC
Monza
19 h
Ferrari hails "emotional" Monza pole in final WEC race for 499P
Latest news
Qatar Grand Prix grid down to 16 as Luca Marini withdraws
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
4 min
Qatar Grand Prix grid down to 16 as Luca Marini withdraws
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Kyle Busch Remembered: Winning two NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Kyle Busch Remembered: Winning two NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead
McLaren’s 2027-spec front wing is making its F1 car more predictable
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
McLaren’s 2027-spec front wing is making its F1 car more predictable
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe