Lewis Hamilton has returned to second place in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship after finishing fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix, but an even more remarkable statistic underlines the value of his first Ferrari season. The seven-time world champion is the only driver to have completed every lap of the campaign while also finishing inside the top 10 at every round.
George Russell’s opening-lap retirement at Spa-Francorchamps helped Lewis Hamilton move five points ahead of his former Mercedes teammate in the standings. The Ferrari driver is now 45 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, as the Scuderia continues to establish itself as Mercedes’ closest challenger.
Lewis Hamilton returns to second in the 2026 F1 standings
Lewis Hamilton’s fourth-place finish in Belgium, combined with George Russell’s retirement following their first-lap collision, lifted the British driver back into second place in the championship. Hamilton now holds a five-point advantage over George Russell, although Kimi Antonelli remains 45 points clear at the top.
Ferrari has made a significant step forward over the past four races, becoming the main threat to Mercedes. At Spa, Charles Leclerc finished second while Lewis Hamilton recovered to fourth despite a difficult weekend, as detailed in our complete Ferrari Belgian Grand Prix review.
However, Ferrari’s recent performance improvement is not the only reason Lewis Hamilton has climbed the standings. His consistency and ability to avoid retirements have become equally important factors in keeping both the driver and the team within reach of Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton holds a unique 2026 consistency record
The driver of the number 44 SF-26 currently possesses a statistic unmatched by anyone else in the championship. In a season in which reliability has often been the exception rather than the rule, Lewis Hamilton has completed every racing lap and has always finished inside the top 10.
Lewis Hamilton is not the only driver who has seen the chequered flag at every Grand Prix. Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, and Haas driver Esteban Ocon have also completed every race so far.
What makes Lewis Hamilton’s record unique is that he has scored points at every event, including the Sprint races. No other driver has managed to maintain the same uninterrupted scoring run across every competitive session of the 2026 season.
His Belgian Grand Prix performance was particularly notable because his FP3 accident had affected his confidence and preparation. Ferrari’s unsuccessful attempt to make a front-wing adjustment also left him struggling with the car’s balance, an issue examined in our analysis of Lewis Hamilton’s compromised Spa race pace.
Hungarian GP offers Lewis Hamilton chance to complete perfect first half
Lewis Hamilton’s immediate objective is now simple: preserve that record at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Reaching the chequered flag and scoring again at the Hungaroring would allow him to complete the first half of the season with the highest possible level of consistency.
Ferrari heads to Budapest with reasons for confidence, although the team cannot assume the circuit will automatically suit the SF-26. Charles Leclerc has already explained why Ferrari must remain cautious about its Hungarian GP prospects.
Lewis Hamilton has also said that the car should be strong in Hungary if Ferrari identifies the ideal set-up and avoids mistakes. A clean weekend would give him another opportunity to protect second place in the standings and reduce Kimi Antonelli’s championship advantage before the summer break.
Reliability has strengthened Ferrari alongside improved performance
There is a clear reason why Ferrari is now second in the Constructors’ Championship. Lewis Hamilton’s performances have improved dramatically compared with last season, but his ability to avoid retirements has also played a decisive role in the overall standings.
Kimi Antonelli has already recorded two retirements, while George Russell has failed to finish three times. Those missed opportunities help explain why Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari can currently describe themselves as Mercedes’ only consistent opponents in the 2026 championship.
George Russell’s latest retirement was particularly costly, as it dropped him behind Lewis Hamilton in the standings. The Mercedes driver subsequently asked the team for the same specification as Kimi Antonelli after his Spa setback, with Mercedes also explaining the software issue that affected his race.
Ferrari’s increased competitiveness has therefore been built on two complementary strengths: improved performance from the SF-26 and Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable reliability. The British driver may not yet be leading the championship, but his uninterrupted scoring record has ensured that he remains Kimi Antonelli’s closest rival heading into Hungary.
With half of the campaign approaching completion, Lewis Hamilton’s challenge is to keep doing what nobody else has managed throughout 2026: finish every race, score at every opportunity and remain close enough to capitalise whenever Mercedes encounters trouble.
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