George Russell has praised Lewis Hamilton's resurgence at Ferrari, warning that Mercedes faces a genuine threat from the seven-time world champion and his team for the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' and constructors' championships. Hamilton secured his first win for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix two weeks ago, closing the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 25 points. The 41-year-old now sits second in the standings, 41 points behind Antonelli, after a difficult debut season with Ferrari where he failed to secure a single podium finish.
Russell Acknowledges Hamilton's Form
Russell, who lies third in the drivers' championship, said: "It's great to see Lewis back doing what he does best. People were writing him off last year or even the year we were team-mates in '24. You know, 'Is he too old? Is he this? Is he that?' And then he goes and he's been smashing it for the last four or five races. It just shows that you don't forget how to drive overnight. You need yourself, your team, the set-up, the understanding of the tyres, everything just to click. And when it clicks, you fly."
Russell added: "That's where he is at the moment and for sure he is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat. Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently. But Ferrari feel like they're coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that."
Hamilton Confident of Title Challenge
Hamilton, who has four top-three finishes in 2026 after a winless 2025, refused to rule out a strong challenge heading into the second half of the season: "I don't think it's impossible," he said.
Reigning champion Lando Norris is fourth on 73 points, followed by McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (68) and Max Verstappen (55). The Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg this Sunday could see at least four teams challenging for victory.
Leclerc Replaced by Beganovic in FP1
Charles Leclerc will be replaced by Ferrari academy driver Dino Beganovic for the first practice session (FP1) at the Austrian Grand Prix. Leclerc has struggled to match Hamilton's pace in recent races and even adopted Hamilton's car setup in a bid to catch up. The 27-year-old will have 60 minutes less track time than his teammate as a result.
Beganovic, a Swedish driver who has been part of Ferrari's driver academy since 2020, is getting a rare run-out in the SF-26. He was also drafted in at Barcelona two weeks ago, taking Hamilton's place in FP1. Leclerc will be back in the cockpit for FP2 to familiarise himself with the car.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur expressed confidence: "We arrive in Austria encouraged by our positive showing over the past few races. We are fully aware that there is still a lot of work to do and that we must continue to focus on ourselves. We will approach this weekend with the same method and mindset that we have adopted since the start of the season. [We are] aiming to put together clean sessions in every respect, from track execution to the strategic decisions taken on the pit wall. We know that every weekend has a different story to tell, which is why we will continue to take the championship one race at a time."
