Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be hailed as a major success if the Scuderia manages to finish the season among the top three in the Drivers' Championship. He urges detractors to focus on the positive aspects of the team’s performance, even though recent races have been marred by setbacks and missed podiums. The prospect of Hamilton and Ferrari clinching the world title has faded dramatically after a string of underwhelming results. The British champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and his hopes of challenging for the championship have dwindled.
A further blow came at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, where Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the season. That non‑finish dropped him more than 100 points behind the points leader, Kimi Antonelli, marking the first time this year that the seven‑time world champion has been more than a hundred points adrift of the leader.
Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point advantage over his teammate George Russell, who sits second in the standings. When asked about his own title chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton answered candidly: "Well, I mean, he's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained around 40 points on me, and we’ve been working hard to claw back a few points here and there." He went on to stress the long road still ahead: "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' title, I think that would be remarkable." Hamilton also reflected on the broader picture, comparing this season to last year’s achievements. "You have to think about where we were last year and where we are now.
While it sometimes feels like doom and gloom, you really have to look at the positives," he said. Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Hamilton’s own debut in the red shirt was a difficult one, with the champion failing to reach the podium for the first time in his career. The situation began to improve when he finally secured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, followed by a win for Charles Leclerc 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 done this year," Hamilton continued. "I know a lot of people focus on the negatives. For me, if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult as Mercedes are the leaders – then finishing the year in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for the team." Currently, Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points in the drivers' standings.
While Ferrari has shown flashes of competitiveness in the early phases of race weekends, the team’s recent results have often been compromised by operational missteps and strategic errors that were within its 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 had the best results," Hamilton admitted. "The positives we take forward and we try to learn from the areas where we weren’t as good. I believe we can make improvements and I think we have.
I’m excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also saw Russell fall a season‑high margin behind Antonelli, who has now won the last two Grands Prix, bringing his career total to eight victories in a remarkable second season in Formula 1. Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has spoken openly about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. He told reporters in Baku that he feels his progress is accelerating: "I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." He emphasized the importance of maintaining that momentum throughout the remainder of the season, especially as the sport heads toward a relatively stable regulatory environment for 2027. "It is very important to resolve some issues, and I’m pleased with the progress since the summer break," Russell said.
"The race pace, which was a weakness, has improved substantially and we’ve been in the mix every race since the break. I now feel more comfortable that I can fight for great results." Looking ahead, Russell remains realistic about his championship hopes. "I have effectively ruled myself out of title contention, but my approach to each race weekend will not change. I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible," he asserted.
He added, "It doesn’t change how I do my job. I want to try to win every race and take pole every race.
That’s my goal. The performance gap is huge, but it’s not even a consideration right now – the priority is performance." The weekend schedule for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is packed with support events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, as well as the main Formula 1 sessions. The program begins early on Thursday with F2 practice at 9 am, followed by qualifying and a team bosses’ press conference. Friday features an F2 sprint, additional F2 practice, and the start of the F1 qualifying build‑up, culminating in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session at 1 pm.
Saturday includes the F2 feature race and the Grand Prix itself, with the race slated for midday on Sunday. Sky Sports will broadcast the entire weekend live, with streaming available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the best video experience.
In summary, while the championship battle may no longer be about the title for Hamilton and Ferrari, the British champion believes that securing a top‑three finish in the Drivers' standings and challenging Mercedes for the Constructors' title would still represent a remarkable achievement. By focusing on the progress made, the upgrades introduced, and the positive moments throughout a turbulent season, Hamilton aims to end the year on a high note and set a strong foundation for the future.