Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s campaign can still be deemed a "massive accomplishment" if the team manages to finish within the top three of the Drivers' Championship, urging detractors to focus on the brighter aspects of the season despite recent setbacks. The dream of clinching this year’s world title has all but vanished for both Hamilton and Ferrari, with the seven‑time champion failing to reach the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July.
A race‑ending retirement in Madrid—Hamilton’s first DNF of the year—saw him fall more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli for the first time this season, effectively ending his title hopes. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point cushion over his Mercedes teammate George Russell at the summit of the standings.
When asked about his own championship chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 15th round of the scheduled 23‑race calendar, Hamilton replied: "Well, I mean, he's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained roughly 40‑plus points on me, and we've been working tirelessly to claw back a few points here and there.
There's still a long way to go, and my focus is on holding onto second place—or, if possible, catching Mercedes—for the Constructors' title. That would be remarkable." He continued, "We have to compare where we were last year with where we are now.
While the narrative often sounds doom‑and‑gloom, you really need to look at the positives." Ferrari endured a win‑less 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while Hamilton endured a difficult first year in the red car, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career. Nevertheless, the team managed a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and Charles Leclerc added another win at Silverstone two races later.
Hamilton 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 achieved this year. I know many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him—though Mercedes are the leaders—that would be very difficult.
Yet finishing the season in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Currently, Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell, his former Mercedes teammate, in the drivers' standings. Ferrari often looks competitive in the early phases of a race weekend, but recent results have been hampered by operational and strategic errors that are 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," Hamilton said. "We learn from the areas where we weren't as strong, and I believe we can improve—and we have.
I'm excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago also saw Russell fall a season‑high margin behind Antonelli, who has now won the last two Grands Prix, bringing his total to eight victories in an extraordinary second campaign in Formula 1. Russell, who entered the season as the pre‑season favorite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. He told the media in Baku that "I've been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." He stressed the importance of maintaining this momentum throughout the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. "It's crucial to resolve some lingering issues.
I'm pleased with the progress since the summer break," Russell explained. "Race pace, which was a weakness, has improved markedly and we’ve been in the mix every race since the break. I now feel more comfortable fighting for strong results. Let's see how the points fall from now until the end of the season.
Next year will be similar—chassis and power units won’t change much, maybe tyre specifications will differ slightly. So I need to keep building." Although he has effectively ruled himself out of the title hunt, Russell says his approach to each race weekend remains unchanged.
"I’ll keep fighting every single 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 race. That’s my goal each weekend. The huge points deficit is there, but it’s not the primary consideration right now; performance is the top priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule: Thursday will host F2 practice, qualifying, and a team bosses' press conference, followed by F2 practice sessions on Friday alongside the F1 sprint and qualifying. Saturday will see the F2 feature race and the Grand Prix itself, with Sunday offering post‑race analysis and reaction segments.
All events will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with flexible streaming options available via NOW for viewers who prefer a contract‑free experience. In summary, while the championship battle may no longer be in Hamilton’s hands, his optimism about Ferrari’s progress and his determination to extract the maximum from every race underscore a season that, despite its challenges, still holds the potential for noteworthy achievements.