A commanding RacingNews365 poll has revealed that 68.45 per cent of readers believe Lewis Hamilton is a genuine contender for an eighth world championship this season, with only a 31.55 of voters unconvinced by the 41-year-old's title credentials.
It is easy to see why the majority are backing him. Hamilton sits second in the standings on 115 points following his stunning victory at the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend, a result that ended a lengthy winless drought and slashed the deficit to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 41 points.
With the bulk of the 24-race calendar still to play out, that gap is far from insurmountable.
The Ferrari SF-26 has clearly given Hamilton a car capable of fighting at the front, something he lacked in his final Mercedes seasons.
His Spain triumph was a reminder that, when comfortable and confident, Hamilton remains one of the most formidable operators on the grid.
That said, the 25 per cent of sceptics have a fair point. Antonelli has been the outstanding performer of 2026 so far, and at 19 years old, the Mercedes driver shows no signs of slowing down.
Hamilton, meanwhile, must also keep one eye on team-mate Charles Leclerc and George Russell in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested four-way battle at the top of the championship.
Check out the full results below!
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