Is Lewis Hamilton suddenly a surprise F1 title contender?

Lewis Hamilton has climbed to second place in the 2026 F1 drivers' championship with 90 points after six rounds, following back-to-back second-place finishes in Canada and Monaco. He trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli, a 19-year-old Mercedes driver who has won five of the first six races, by 66 points. Hamilton acknowledged Ferrari's SF-26 lacks the pace of Antonelli's dominant W17, citing aerodynamic shortfalls and noting Mercedes are 'on another level' currently.