Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be hailed as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish within the top three of the Drivers' Championship, urging detractors to focus on the season's brighter moments despite the recent setbacks. The British seven‑time world champion and the Italian team have seen their title hopes dwindle over the past few rounds. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and Ferrari’s chances of clinching the championship have all but evaporated. A further blow came in Madrid, where Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the year.
The result dropped him more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, marking the first time this season that the points gap exceeded a century. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, leaving Hamilton in a distant second‑place battle. When asked about his own title aspirations ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th event of a 23‑round calendar – Hamilton replied, "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 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 at least keeping the fight alive for the constructors' title.
That would be remarkable." He added, "We have to compare where we were last year with where we are now. While the narrative often sounds doom‑and‑gloom, you really have to look at the positives." Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while Hamilton endured a difficult first year in the red car, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career. The tide turned briefly when he captured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and teammate Charles Leclerc followed with a win at Silverstone two races later.
"We’ve been fighting, we’ve secured wins and podiums, and the team has delivered incredible upgrades," Hamilton said. "You have to acknowledge the good work we’ve done this year.
Many people fixate on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be extremely tough given Mercedes’ dominance – staying in the top three, even second, would be a massive achievement for the team." Currently Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers' table. Although Ferrari has shown flashes of speed in qualifying and early race phases, operational mistakes and strategic missteps have repeatedly cost them valuable points. "There are positives to take from the last few races, but the execution hasn’t been the best and the results suffer as a result," Hamilton explained. "We learn from the areas where we fell short, and I believe we can improve – and we are.
I’m excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also saw Russell fall further behind Antonelli, who has now won the last two races and amassed eight career victories in an impressive second season in Formula 1. Russell, who entered the year as the preseason favorite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. He told the Baku press conference, "I’ve made very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." He emphasized the need to maintain this upward trajectory throughout the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. "It’s crucial to resolve the issues we identified earlier.
Since the summer break, I’m pleased with the progress – the race pace, once a weakness, has improved dramatically and we’ve been competitive every race since. I now feel comfortable fighting for strong results. The points will decide the rest of the year, but next year the chassis and power units will remain largely unchanged, with only minor tyre variations. So I’ll keep building on this momentum," Russell added.
Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the championship hunt, his approach to each race weekend remains unchanged. "I’ll keep fighting every race until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed. "That doesn’t change how I do my job. I want to win every race, take pole every time – that’s my goal.
The deficit is huge, but it’s not my primary concern right now; performance is." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend promises a packed schedule, with practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself spread across three days. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW for those who prefer flexible, contract‑free viewing. In summary, Hamilton’s message is clear: despite a season that has often felt like a struggle against adversity, there are still reasons to celebrate.
By highlighting the wins, the upgrades, and the competitive moments, he believes Ferrari can still finish the year on a high note, securing a top‑three finish that would vindicate the hard work of the entire team.