Lewis Hamilton has openly argued that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be counted as a major success if the Scuderia manages to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged commentators and fans to shift their focus toward the positives that the team has produced, even though recent races have been marred by setbacks and missed podiums.
The dream of clinching the world title has faded for both Hamilton and Ferrari after a string of disappointing results. The seven‑time champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid saw him drop more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. That gap marked the first time this season Hamilton fell out of contention for the title.
Antonelli now leads the standings by 81 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points. When asked about his own championship chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied, "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 so 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." Hamilton stressed the importance of perspective, noting that "when you compare where we were last year with where we are now, it sometimes looks like doom and gloom, but you have to look at the positives." He reminded listeners that Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and fell to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while his own first year in the red car had been unusually barren of podium finishes. Yet the team broke that streak with a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, followed by Charles Leclerc’s 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 said.
"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 us as a team." Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari has shown flashes of competitiveness during race weekends, but recent performances have often been undermined by strategic missteps and operational errors 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 reflect that," he explained. "We learn from the areas where we were weaker, we make improvements, and I’m excited for this weekend." The broader context of the championship features a dominant Antonelli, who has won the last two Grands Prix and amassed eight career victories in just his second Formula 1 season. Russell, the pre‑season favourite, has been vocal about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars.
In Baku, he said, "I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." He highlighted the need to maintain that momentum throughout the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. Russell also addressed the technical side, noting that the chassis and power units will see only minor changes next year, with tyre specifications likely to be the most noticeable difference. "The race pace, which was a weakness, has improved substantially since the summer break, and I now feel more comfortable fighting for great results," he added.
Despite effectively ruling himself out of the title hunt, Russell pledged to keep fighting until it becomes mathematically impossible. "I’ll keep fighting every race, aim for pole, and try to win each Grand Prix.
The performance gap is huge, but it’s not the main consideration right now – performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend is packed with supporting events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. The schedule begins on Thursday morning with F2 practice, followed by a press conference, and continues through Friday and Saturday with additional F2 races and the Formula 1 qualifying and Grand Prix itself.
Fans can stream Sky Sports flexibly via the NOW platform, with a Chrome browser recommended for the best video experience. In summary, Hamilton’s message to the media and to Ferrari supporters is clear: while the season has not lived up to the lofty expectations set at the start, there are still tangible achievements to be proud of. Securing a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship, maintaining a strong position in the Constructors' standings, and continuing to develop the car through upgrades are all milestones that, in Hamilton’s view, constitute a "huge achievement" for the Scuderia.
The focus now shifts to extracting every ounce of performance in Azerbaijan and turning the positives into concrete results before the season draws to a close.