Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be hailed as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged detractors to focus on the positives that have emerged throughout a year that has been marked by setbacks and missed opportunities.
The British seven‑time world champion and the Italian team have seen their title hopes evaporate in recent weeks. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid left him more than 100 points adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. That gap represents the first time this season that Hamilton has fallen more than a full hundred points behind the points leader, effectively ending any realistic chance of claiming the drivers' crown. Antonelli currently enjoys an 81‑point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, underscoring the dominance of the Red Bull‑powered youngster.
When asked about his own prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied with a mixture of realism and optimism: "Well, I mean, he's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained something like 40‑odd points on me, and we've been working so hard to gain just a couple of points here and there. There is still a long way to go and I think the focus for me is, if we can hold on to second – if not somehow catch Mercedes – for the constructors', I think that would be remarkable." He went on to stress the importance of perspective: "I think it's also just having to think about where we were last year and where we've come to this year and whilst it sometimes seems doom and gloom, you actually have to look at the positives." Hamilton highlighted that Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, while his own first year in the red shirt was the first of his career without a podium finish.
Yet he reminded fans that the team did secure a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and Charles Leclerc added a win at Silverstone two races later. "We've been fighting, we've had wins and podiums, the team have done an incredible job in terms of bringing upgrades, so you really have to acknowledge the good things that we've done this year," Hamilton said. "I know lots of people focus on the negatives. For me, again, if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him, which would be very difficult as Mercedes are the leaders...
if at the end of the year, managing to stay in the top three, even second, I think would be a huge achievement for us as a team." At present Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers' standings. He noted that Ferrari often looks competitive in the early phases of a race weekend, but recent results have been hampered by operational missteps and strategic errors that were within the team's control. "I think there's positives to take out of the last few races, it's just they haven't been, I would say, the best in terms of execution and we've not had the best results," he admitted.
"But the positives we take forwards and we try and learn from the areas we weren't as good. I believe we can make improvements and I think we have.
I'm excited for this weekend." The narrative surrounding the championship is further complicated by the performances of Antonelli and Russell. Antonelli has claimed the last two Grand Prix victories, bringing his career total to eight wins in just his second season – an extraordinary achievement that has cemented his status as the clear front‑runner.
Meanwhile, Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has been vocal about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the brand‑new 2026 cars. In Baku, he expressed optimism: "I've been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again.
I think it is very important to try and resolve some issues, which, as I mentioned before, I think I've been pleased with that progress since the summer break. The race pace, which was a weakness, has been substantially better and has been in the mix every single race since the break." Russell also emphasized his commitment to the season despite being effectively out of title contention.
"I'm going to keep fighting every single race until it's mathematically impossible," he said. "But it doesn't change how I go about my job. I want to try and win every single race and put it on pole every single race.
That's my goal. That's what I'm working towards every single weekend, and what happens thereafter will be. There's obviously a huge deficit, but it's not even really a consideration right now.
It's just the performance is the biggest priority." Looking ahead, both drivers acknowledge that the upcoming races will be decisive for the final standings. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend features a packed schedule, starting with F2 practice sessions on Thursday morning, followed by qualifying and a team bosses' press conference. Friday brings an F2 sprint, additional practice, and the F2 feature race, before the main F1 qualifying session at 1 PM Baku time.
Saturday will host the F2 feature race and the Grand Prix itself, with the race slated for midday on Sunday. For fans wanting to follow the action, Sky Sports will broadcast the event live, with flexible streaming options available through the NOW platform. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the best video experience.
In summary, Hamilton's message is clear: despite a season that has often felt like a struggle against the odds, the combination of occasional victories, steady development, and a resilient team spirit provides a foundation for optimism. If Ferrari can finish the year within the top three of the Constructors' Championship – or even secure second place – Hamilton believes that would constitute a "huge achievement" and a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.
The upcoming races, especially the high‑stakes Azerbaijan round, will determine whether the Scuderia can turn that optimism into tangible results.