Lewis Hamilton enters the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season in second place in the drivers’ championship, and is once again being treated as a title contender. With the Brit ahead of his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, who is in P4, the discussion about a possible Scuderia priority in favor of the seven-time world champion grows.
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After the first eleven rounds held this year, Hamilton is among the two Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, and holds second position. The gap to Antonelli is equivalent to two wins in terms of points, while he opened a 31-point lead over Leclerc.
This strong performance has put Hamilton in a title fight for the first time since the end of the 2021 season. At the same time, Ferrari is trying to end a long period without winning the drivers’ title, which has not happened since 2007.
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Given this scenario, the possibility arises that the Scuderia may need to evaluate team orders during the final part of the season. The central question is whether the Italian team should focus its efforts on Hamilton to increase his chances of winning the championship, especially while Leclerc remains behind in the standings.
Hamilton is also seeking a historic achievement, the eighth world title of his career, something unprecedented in F1. A recent survey conducted by RacingNews365 showed that almost 60% of the fans surveyed believe that Ferrari should start prioritizing the Brit over Leclerc, precisely with the aim of ending the wait for the drivers’ title.
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