Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be regarded as a "huge achievement" if the team manages to finish the season within the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged observers to focus on the positives that have emerged over the course of the year, despite a series of setbacks that have clouded the team’s prospects.
The dream of clinching the world title has faded for both Hamilton and Ferrari after a string of recent races in which the seven‑time champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July. A premature retirement in Madrid, the first for Hamilton this season, saw him slip more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, for the first time this year.
That gap effectively handed the title to the young Italian, who now leads the standings by 81 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. When asked about his own championship hopes ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton responded with a mixture of realism and optimism. "Well, I mean, he's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained about 40‑odd points, and we’ve been working hard to claw back a few points here and there.
There’s still a long way to go. My focus is on holding onto second place – or, if possible, catching Mercedes – in the Constructors' Championship. That would be remarkable," he said.
Hamilton also reflected on the team’s progress compared with the previous season. "Think about where we were last year and where we are now. It sometimes feels like doom and gloom, but you have to look at the positives," he added. Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while Hamilton endured his first year in the red Ferrari without a single podium – a first in his illustrious career.
The tide turned briefly when Charles Leclerc secured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, followed by 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.
You really have to acknowledge the good things we’ve accomplished this year," Hamilton emphasized. "I know many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult as Mercedes are the leaders – then 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' table.
He noted that Ferrari has often shown competitive speed in the early phases of race weekends, but recent results have been hampered by strategic missteps and operational errors that were within the team’s control. "There are positives to take from the last few races, but they haven’t been the best in terms of execution, and we haven’t gotten the best results," Hamilton said.
"We take the positives forward and learn from the areas where we were weaker. I believe we can improve, and I think we have. I’m excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also highlighted Russell’s struggles, as he fell a season‑high margin behind Antonelli, who has now won the last two Grands Prix, bringing his total to eight victories in an impressive second season in Formula 1.
Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the brand‑new 2026 cars. Nevertheless, he told the press in Baku that he has been making “very good progress” and feels confident he can fight for wins again.
He stressed the importance of maintaining that momentum throughout the remainder of the season, especially as the sport heads into a relatively stable regulatory environment for 2027. "It’s crucial to resolve some issues. I’m pleased with the progress since the summer break," Russell explained.
"The race pace, which was a weakness, is now substantially better and competitive every race since the break. I feel more comfortable that I can fight for great results. Let’s see how the points fall out until the end of the season. Next year will be similar – not much will change with the chassis or power units, maybe the tyres will be slightly different.
So it’s important I continue to build." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title hunt, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible," he asserted. "But it doesn’t change how I do my job. I want to try and win every race and take pole every race.
That’s my goal each weekend. The performance gap is huge, but it’s not the main consideration right now; performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule, with practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself spread across three days. The event is part of a triple‑header of races that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW for viewers who prefer a contract‑free experience. Overall, Hamilton’s message is clear: despite the challenges, both he and Ferrari should celebrate the strides they have made, continue to refine their strategy, and aim for a strong finish in the championship.
By focusing on incremental improvements and capitalising on the positives, they hope to turn a season that has felt bleak into one that ends with a respectable podium finish in the Constructors' table and a solid standing for Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship.