Lewis Hamilton has taken a surprisingly upbeat stance on Ferrari's 2026 campaign, insisting that the Italian outfit can still claim a "significant accomplishment" if they manage to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. The seven‑time world champion urged fans and pundits alike to focus on the positives that have emerged over the course of a tumultuous year, even as the team has struggled with reliability and strategic missteps.
The optimism comes at a time when both Hamilton and Ferrari have seen their hopes of challenging for the world title dwindle. The Briton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid saw him fall more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli – a gap that effectively ended his title aspirations. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, further widening the gap between the frontrunners and the rest of the field.
When asked about his own championship chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton answered candidly: "He's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained around 40 points, and we've been working hard to claw back a few here and there. There's still a long way to go, and my focus is on holding onto second place, or at least keeping Mercedes within reach for the constructors' title. That would be remarkable." Hamilton's comments were interspersed with a series of headlines that illustrate the broader context of the sport: Isack Hadjar has been confirmed as Max Verstappen's Red Bull teammate for 2027, drivers are debating the relevance of the Monaco Sprint after the upcoming calendar changes, and Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has set specific objectives for the Azerbaijan weekend while Nico Rosberg highlighted the team's lingering "Achilles' heel." Meanwhile, analysts are already speculating how the triple‑header of Azerbaijan, Malaysia and Singapore will shape the remainder of the 2026 championship battle.
Reflecting on the team's performance, Hamilton said, "We have to compare where we were last year with where we are now. It may look like doom and gloom, but you have to look at the positives." Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season, slipping to fourth in the Constructors' standings, and Hamilton himself endured a difficult inaugural year in the red car, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career. Yet the season has not been without highlights: Hamilton captured his first victory of the year at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and Charles Leclerc followed with a win at Silverstone two races later.
"We've been fighting, we've had wins and podiums, and the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades," Hamilton continued. "I know many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and perhaps get ahead of him – which would be very difficult as Mercedes lead the championship – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Currently, Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers' standings. While Ferrari has shown flashes of speed during practice and qualifying sessions, recent race results have often been compromised by operational errors and strategic blunders that were within the team's control.
"There are positives to take from the last few races, but the execution hasn't been the best and the results have suffered," Hamilton admitted. "We learn from the areas where we fell short, and I believe we can improve – and we have.
I'm excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also saw Russell fall a season‑high margin behind Antonelli, who has now won the last two grands prix, bringing his career total to eight victories in an extraordinary sophomore season. Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favorite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in Baku, noting, "I've made very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again.
It's important to keep that momentum through the rest of the season as we head into a relatively stable regulatory winter heading into 2027." Russell highlighted the need to resolve lingering issues, particularly around race pace, which he described as a former weakness that has now improved significantly. "The race pace has been substantially better and we have been in the mix at every race since the summer break. I feel more comfortable fighting for great results," he said.
He also cautioned that while the chassis and power units will not change dramatically next year, tyre developments could offer new opportunities, emphasizing the importance of continued development. Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I will keep fighting every single race until it's mathematically impossible," he declared. "My goal is to win every race and take pole at every event.
The performance gap is huge, but it's not the main consideration right now; delivering strong results is." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule, with F2 practice and qualifying sessions, a team‑boss press conference, and multiple F1 sessions including practice, qualifying, and the race itself. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and streamed via NOW, offering fans a comprehensive view of the action. In summary, Hamilton's message to the Ferrari faithful is clear: despite a season marred by setbacks, there are tangible achievements to celebrate.
By securing a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship, or even maintaining a strong challenge for the Constructors' title, Ferrari can still turn a narrative of disappointment into one of resilience and progress. The next few races, starting with the high‑speed streets of Baku, will be crucial in determining whether the team can convert those positives into concrete results and end the year on a high note.