Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be deemed a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish the year inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. The seven‑time world champion urged observers to focus on the positives rather than the recent setbacks that have clouded the team’s performance. The optimism comes after a string of disappointing results. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and Ferrari’s hopes of clinching the world title have all but evaporated.
A race‑ending retirement in Madrid saw Hamilton, who was running third, fall more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli – the first time this season that the gap exceeded a century of points. Antonelli now leads the standings by 81 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. When asked about his own title chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied with a dose of realism: "He’s 101 points ahead of me.
In just two races he gained about 40‑odd points, and we’ve been fighting for every single point we can scrape. There’s still a long way to go, but if we can hold onto second place in the Constructors' Championship – or even catch Mercedes – that would be remarkable." Hamilton went on to stress the importance of perspective. "If you compare where we were last year with where we are now, it can look bleak, but you have to look at the positives.
Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while I endured a difficult first year in red with no podiums for the first time in my career. Yet we secured a win at the Spanish Grand Prix in June and Charles Leclerc took victory at Silverstone two races later." He added, "We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, and the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades. You have to acknowledge the good things we’ve done this year. Many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult because Mercedes are the leaders – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for the team." Currently Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers' table.
While Ferrari has shown flashes of speed in qualifying and early race phases, operational and strategic missteps have often cost them valuable points. "There are positives to take from the last few races, but the execution hasn’t been the best and the results reflect that," Hamilton said.
"We learn from the areas where we were weak, we improve, and I’m excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also highlighted Russell’s own challenges. The pre‑season favourite fell further behind Antonelli, who has now won two consecutive Grands Prix, bringing his career total to eight victories in just his second F1 season. Russell has spoken openly about adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars, noting that progress is being made. In Baku he said, "I’ve been making 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 and into 2027, especially as the regulations remain relatively stable." He continued, "The race pace, which was a weakness, has improved dramatically since the summer break. I now feel comfortable fighting for great results. Let’s see how the points fall out until the end of the season. Next year will be similar – the chassis and power units won’t change much, maybe the tyres will be slightly different – so I need to keep building." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged.
"I’ll keep fighting every race until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed. "That doesn’t change how I do my job. I want to win every race and take pole every time.
The performance gap is huge, but my focus is on improving the car and delivering results." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule: practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, a sprint race on Friday, and the main Grand Prix on Saturday. Sky Sports will broadcast the action live, with streaming options available via the NOW platform. Fans can follow the F2 support series, the team bosses' press conference, and the full Grand Prix program, which includes post‑race analysis and commentary.
In summary, Hamilton’s message is clear: despite a season that has felt like a series of setbacks, there are still reasons for optimism. The team’s ability to develop upgrades, secure occasional wins, and remain competitive in qualifying suggests that a top‑three finish in the Constructors' Championship is within reach. By focusing on incremental improvements and learning from past mistakes, Ferrari can finish the year on a high note, turning what many have called a "doom and gloom" narrative into a story of resilience and achievement.