Lewis Hamilton has publicly defended Ferrari’s 2025 campaign, insisting that the team’s efforts can still be regarded as a "huge achievement" if they manage to finish within the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged detractors to focus on the positives that have emerged throughout a season that has been marked by both promising flashes and frustrating setbacks.
In recent weeks the prospect of a title challenge for both Hamilton and Ferrari has faded dramatically. The seven‑time world champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid saw him tumble more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli. That gap, 81 points ahead of Hamilton’s teammate George Russell, effectively handed the title to Antonelli long before the season’s conclusion. When asked about his own championship hopes ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton answered with a mixture of realism and optimism.
"He’s 101 points ahead of me," Hamilton said, noting that Antonelli had amassed roughly 40 points in just two races. "We’ve been working so hard to gain a few points here and there. There’s still a long way to go.
If we can hold on to second place – or even catch Mercedes for the constructors’ title – that would be remarkable." Hamilton emphasized the importance of perspective, urging fans and pundits alike to compare where Ferrari stood last season with their current position. "It sometimes looks like doom and gloom, but you have to look at the positives," he added. The Italian squad endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while Hamilton endured his own difficult year in the red car, failing to reach the podium for the first time in his career. Despite the overall disappointment, there were bright spots.
Ferrari secured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and Charles Leclerc followed that up with a win at Silverstone two races later. Hamilton highlighted those successes, saying, "We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades. You really have to acknowledge the good things we’ve done this year." He also pointed out that many observers focus on the negatives, but the true measure of progress lies in the ability to compete with rivals.
"If I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult as Mercedes are the leaders – then staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team," Hamilton explained. Currently Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers' table. While Ferrari has shown competitiveness in the early phases of race weekends, recent results have often been compromised by operational missteps and strategic 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 suffered," Hamilton said.
"We learn from the areas where we weren’t as good, we make improvements, and I’m excited for this weekend." The narrative around the championship has also been shaped by Antonelli’s meteoric rise. The young driver has claimed victory in the last two grands prix, bringing his career total to eight wins in what is only his second Formula 1 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 all‑new 2026 cars. Nevertheless, he reported significant progress in Baku, stating, "I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." Russell stressed the importance of maintaining that upward trajectory throughout the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. "It’s very important to resolve the issues we’ve identified. Since the summer break the race pace, which was a weakness, has improved dramatically and we’ve been in the mix every race," he noted.
He also hinted at modest changes for the next year, such as slightly different tyre constructions, while the chassis and power‑unit packages are expected to remain largely unchanged. Although Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title hunt, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible," he declared. "I want to win every race, take pole every race – that’s my goal.
The performance gap is huge, but it’s not the main consideration right now; the priority is to keep improving." The weekend schedule for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is packed with supporting events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, as well as the main F1 practice and qualifying sessions. Sky Sports will broadcast the action live, with flexible streaming options available through the NOW platform, allowing fans to watch without a long‑term contract.
In summary, Hamilton’s defence of Ferrari is rooted in a belief that success should be measured not only by championships but also by resilience, development, and the ability to turn setbacks into stepping stones. While the title may be out of reach, maintaining a top‑three finish in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships would still represent a significant accomplishment for a team that has struggled to find its footing in a rapidly evolving era of Formula 1.