Lewis Hamilton has publicly defended Ferrari’s 2025 campaign, insisting that the team’s performance can still be regarded as a "huge achievement" if they manage to finish the season within the top three of the Drivers' Championship. The seven‑time world champion urged fans and pundits alike to focus on the positives that have emerged over the course of the year, despite a series of setbacks that have tarnished the Scuderia's reputation.
The optimism expressed by Hamilton comes at a time when both his own title hopes and Ferrari’s chances of clinching the Constructors' crown have all but evaporated. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a first‑race retirement in Madrid saw him slip more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
That gap marked the first time this season that Hamilton was more than a full hundred points off the lead, effectively ending any realistic prospect of challenging for the drivers' title. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who sits second in the standings.
When asked about his own championship aspirations ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton responded with a mixture of realism and determination. "Well, I mean, he's 101 points ahead of me," Hamilton said, acknowledging the size of the deficit. "In just two races he gained around 40 points on me, and we’ve been working so hard to claw back a few points here and there. There’s still a long way to go.
My focus is on holding onto second place – or, if possible, catching Mercedes – in the constructors' battle. That would be remarkable." Hamilton continued, "When you compare where we were last year to where we are now, the narrative can sound doom‑and‑gloom, but you have to look at the positives." He highlighted that Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and fell to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while his own stint in the red car has been unusually barren – the first time in his career he has not achieved a podium finish.
Nevertheless, the season has not been without its bright spots. Ferrari secured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, with Charles Leclerc taking the win at Silverstone two races later. Hamilton praised the team’s resilience, saying, "We’ve fought, we’ve taken wins and podiums, and the engineers have delivered incredible upgrades.
You have to acknowledge the good things we’ve done this year. Many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle George and somehow finish ahead of him – which is a tall order given Mercedes’ dominance – staying in the top three, even second, would be a massive achievement for the team." Currently, Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points in the drivers' standings.
He noted that while Ferrari often shows competitive speed in the early stages of a race weekend, recent results have been hampered by strategic missteps and operational 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 explained. "We learn from the areas where we fell short, make improvements, and I’m excited for this weekend." The broader context of the championship includes Antonelli’s impressive run, having won the last two Grands Prix to bring his career total to eight victories in just his second season.
Russell, who entered the year as a pre‑season favorite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. He told reporters in Baku that he has made "very good progress" and feels confident about fighting for victories again.
Russell emphasized the importance of building on that momentum 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 in the year," Russell said.
"Since the summer break, the race pace – which was a weakness – has improved dramatically, and I now feel comfortable competing for strong results. We’ll see how the points fall from now until the end of the season, but the car fundamentals haven’t changed much. The chassis and power units remain similar, and any tyre changes will likely be incremental. My focus is on continuing to develop and perform." Even though Russell has effectively conceded the championship, he maintains a relentless approach to each race weekend.
"I’ll keep fighting until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed. "My goal remains to win every race, secure pole position, and give the team everything I have. The points deficit is there, but it doesn’t dictate my daily work; performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule is packed with supporting events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The weekend’s timetable begins on Thursday, September 24, with F2 practice at 9:00 am, followed by a press conference at noon, and continues through Saturday’s main Grand Prix action. Fans can stream the coverage via the Sky Sports app using Chrome for the best experience, with the option to cancel at any time through the NOW service.
In summary, while the season has presented numerous challenges for both Hamilton and Ferrari, the champion’s message is clear: acknowledge the achievements, learn from the mistakes, and keep pushing forward. Whether that results in a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship or a surprising climb in the Constructors' standings, Hamilton believes the effort and progress made this year deserve recognition rather than dismissal.