Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be deemed a "significant accomplishment" if the Scuderia manages to finish within the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged detractors to focus on the positives that have emerged over the course of a challenging year, despite a series of setbacks that have clouded the team’s prospects. The dream of clinching the world title for both Hamilton and Ferrari has faded after a string of recent races. The seven‑time champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid saw him slip more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli.
That result marked the first time this season that Hamilton fell out of the title hunt, effectively conceding the championship to the Italian prodigy. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point cushion over his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, at the summit of the standings. When asked about his own title chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied with a measured grin: "He’s 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he amassed roughly 40 points on me, and we’ve been grinding for a few points here and there.
There’s still a long way to go. My focus is to hold onto second place – or, if possible, overtake Mercedes for the Constructors' title – which would be remarkable." Hamilton stressed the importance of perspective, noting, "When you compare where we were last season to where we are now, it can sound bleak, but you have to look at the positives." Ferrari endured a win‑less 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while Hamilton himself endured his toughest year in a red car, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career. Yet the team did break the drought with a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and 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 remarkable upgrades," Hamilton continued.
"People tend to focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and maybe edge him out – which is tough because Mercedes leads – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us." Currently, Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points in the drivers' table. While Ferrari often shows speed in the early phases of a weekend, operational blunders and strategic missteps have frequently undermined their results.
"There are positives in the recent races, but execution hasn’t been the best and the outcomes reflect that," Hamilton admitted. "We take those positives forward, learn from the areas where we fell short, and I believe we can improve – and we already are. I’m excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also highlighted Russell’s growing gap to Antonelli, who has now won two consecutive grands prix, bringing his career total to eight victories in just his second F1 season – an extraordinary feat. Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has spoken candidly about the difficulty of adapting his natural driving style to the brand‑new 2026 cars.
He told reporters in Baku that his progress has been substantial and that he feels confident about fighting for victories again. He emphasized the need to maintain that upward trajectory throughout the remainder of the season, especially as the sport heads toward a relatively stable regulatory environment for 2027. "It’s crucial to resolve lingering issues.
Since the summer break I’ve seen notable progress," Russell said. "Race pace, once a weakness, has improved dramatically and we’ve been competitive every race since the break. I now feel 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 – the chassis and power units won’t change much, perhaps only the tyres will differ. So I must keep building." Although Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the championship fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I’ll keep fighting every race until it’s mathematically impossible," he asserted.
"That doesn’t alter how I do my job. I aim to win every race and take pole in each event. That’s my goal every weekend, regardless of the points deficit. Performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, all broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The schedule features practice on Friday morning, a sprint race, and multiple qualifying sessions, culminating in the Grand Prix itself on Saturday at midday. Fans can stream Sky Sports flexibly via the NOW platform, with no contract required and the option to cancel at any time. The race promises a thrilling showcase of both the seasoned veterans and the rising stars of Formula 1, as the championship battle continues to evolve.