Lewis Hamilton has taken a surprisingly supportive stance toward Ferrari’s 2025 campaign, insisting that the Italian squad can still claim a "huge achievement" if they manage to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers’ Championship. The seven‑time world champion urged observers to shift their focus away from recent disappointments and instead recognise the positive aspects of the team’s performance. The optimism comes at a time when both Hamilton and Ferrari’s hopes of contending for the 2025 world title have dwindled. The Briton has not stood on a podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and the team’s chances of challenging for the championship have been further eroded by a series of operational setbacks.
Hamilton’s first retirement of the year in Madrid saw him drop more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, marking the first occasion this season that the veteran fell out of the title race by such a margin. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point cushion over his teammate George Russell, who sits second in the standings. When asked about his own title prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied with a mixture of realism and determination. "He’s 101 points ahead of me," Hamilton said, acknowledging the size of the gap.
"In just two races he gained around 40 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 for the constructors’ title – which would be remarkable." Hamilton also stressed the importance of perspective. "When you compare where we were last year with where we are now, it can look bleak, but you have to look at the positives," he explained.
Ferrari endured a win‑less 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, while Hamilton’s first year in the scarlet livery has been his toughest to date, with no podium finishes until his surprise victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. That win, followed by Charles Leclerc’s triumph at Silverstone two races later, demonstrated that the team still possesses the capacity to deliver top‑tier results.
"We’ve been fighting, we’ve secured wins and podiums, and the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades," Hamilton continued. "Many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and maybe even get ahead of him – which would be very difficult given Mercedes’ dominance – staying in the top three, or even second, would be a massive achievement for us." Currently, Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points in the drivers’ standings. Despite showing speed in qualifying and race trim, Ferrari’s recent outings have often been compromised by strategic missteps and execution errors that appear to be 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 as a result," Hamilton admitted.
"We learn from the areas where we were weaker, and I believe we can improve. I’m excited for this weekend." The broader context of the championship includes Antonelli’s dominant form, having won the last two Grands Prix to bring his career total to eight victories in just his second full season. 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.
Nevertheless, he reported significant progress in Baku, saying, "I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." Russell highlighted the need for continued development throughout the remainder of the season, especially as the sport transitions into a relatively stable regulatory period heading into 2027. "It’s important to resolve the issues we’ve identified.
Since the summer break the race pace has improved dramatically, and I now feel more comfortable fighting for strong results," he said. He added that while the chassis and power units will remain largely unchanged next year, tyre specifications may see slight variations, underscoring the importance of incremental gains. Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title hunt, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged.
"I’ll keep fighting every race until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed. "My goal is to win every race and take pole at every event. The performance gap is the biggest priority, not the points deficit." The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, all of which will be streamed on Sky Sports. The schedule begins on Thursday morning with F2 practice, followed by a press conference and additional practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
The main F1 race is slated for Sunday, with pre‑race build‑up shows and post‑race analysis slated throughout the day. Fans can watch the action live via the Sky Sports app, with a recommendation to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
In summary, Hamilton’s message to critics is clear: while Ferrari’s season has been marred by setbacks, the team’s ability to secure wins, podiums, and meaningful upgrades should not be dismissed. By focusing on incremental improvements and maintaining a positive outlook, Hamilton believes Ferrari can finish the year among the sport’s elite, turning what some have labeled a "doom and gloom" narrative into a story of resilience and achievement.