Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be regarded as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish the year inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged commentators and fans alike to focus on the positives that the team has delivered, even though recent races have been marred by setbacks and a growing points gap.

The former seven‑time world champion and his Ferrari outfit have seen their title hopes fade dramatically over the last few Grands Prix. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid left him more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli for the first time this season. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points.

When asked about his own championship prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton answered candidly: "He’s 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he has clawed on about 40‑plus points, and we have been working hard to scrape a few points here and there. There is still a long way to go.

My focus is on holding onto second place – or, if possible, catching Mercedes – in the Constructors' standings. That would be remarkable." Hamilton went on to stress the importance of perspective. "We have to compare where we were last year with where we are now.

It may look like doom and gloom, but you have to look at the positives," he said. Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while Hamilton endured a personally difficult year in the red car, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career.

The season did produce a few highlights, however: Hamilton claimed his first victory of the year at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and teammate Charles Leclerc followed with a win at Silverstone two races later. "We have been fighting, we have won races and stood on podiums. The team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades, so you really have to acknowledge the good things we have achieved this year," Hamilton continued.

"I know many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult because Mercedes are the leaders – then finishing the year in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari’s performance has often been hampered by operational and strategic errors that were within the team’s control. "There are positives to take from the last few races, but they haven’t been the best in terms of execution, and the results reflect that," he explained. "We learn from the areas where we were weak, we make improvements, and I believe we have already seen progress.

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 victories in what has been an extraordinary sophomore season in Formula 1. Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the brand‑new 2026 cars.

Nevertheless, he reported encouraging signs in Baku, stating, "I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." Russell highlighted the need to maintain this momentum through the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. "It is very important to resolve the issues we identified. I’m pleased with the progress since the summer break. The race pace, which was a weakness, has improved substantially and we have been in the mix at every race since the break.

I now feel more comfortable that I can fight for great results." Although he has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, Russell affirmed that his approach to each weekend will not change. "I will keep fighting every single race until it is mathematically impossible," he said. "But it doesn’t change how I do my job.

I want to try and win every race and take pole at every race. That is my goal each weekend, and whatever happens after that will be what it is. The deficit is huge, but it is not the main consideration right now; performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule, with practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself spread across three days.

The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream the coverage via the NOW platform without a contract, cancelling at any time. In summary, Hamilton’s message to critics is clear: despite a challenging year, Ferrari has shown resilience, secured race wins, and delivered technical upgrades that should not be overlooked.

By concentrating on incremental gains, learning from past mistakes, and aiming for a top‑three finish in the Constructors' table, the team can still claim a season of notable achievement. The next race in Baku will be a crucial test of that optimism, and both Hamilton and Russell have signalled that they will fight until the very last point is decided.