Lewis Hamilton issues warning to rest of the F1 grid with 'level up' claim
Photo: Race Pictures
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton has said he is in the best shape of his near 20-year career following F1's summer break. Instead of partying, the seven-time world champion reveals he has taken the opportunity to "level up," training for three weeks in the build up to F1's return to Zandvoort.
The Briton has already been in fine form this season, as the closest challenger to championship leader Kimi Antonelli so far in 2026. After a dismal debut year at Ferrari, failing to score a podium all season for the first time in his career, Hamilton has secured podium finishes consistently, in Shanghai, Montreal, Monaco, and Silverstone, as well as a maiden win in red at Barcelona.
While still 50 points behind Antonelli in P2, Mercedes' reliability concerns - with the Italian confirming a grid penalty for the following race at Monza - as well as Ferrari's aggressive upgrade strategy for 2026 so far, means a Hamilton charge to an unprecedented eighth Drivers' championship cannot be ruled out.
Hamilton 'levels up' during F1 summer break
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Photo: Race Pictures
And according to the 41-year-old, he has given himself the best possible chance at such a charge. Speaking to media, including GPblog, Hamilton's bleak winter vow to "unplug from the matrix" was brought up in comparison to how the Ferrari driver has availed of his summer break.
Hamilton replied: "This has been the most different summer break that I've ever had in all my championship seasons, well my career generally I think in Formula 1. I mean, normally you go away and you take a week off or two weeks off. It's like a bit of partying and all that sort of stuff.
"And I really took this as an opportunity to to really level up. So, I trained for three weeks. And so I come back the fittest I've ever come back in summer in the 20 years or whatever that I've been here. So, I'm really proud of that, the work we put in with my trainer."
Detailing more of the sort of work he has done during the near-four week break over the summer, Hamilton added: "A lot of analysis to look at where we have been, the things that we did well, the things that we leave behind, looking at the schedule moving forwards, taking out things that don't ultimately get me to where I want to be.
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"And so, I come in really feeling definitely refreshed. It's a different sort of thing rather than relaxed. I feel energised. It's a good feeling, feeling fit."
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