Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be regarded as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish the season within the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged observers to focus on the positives of the team’s performance, even though recent races have highlighted a number of setbacks. The prospect of Hamilton and Ferrari clinching the world title has all but vanished after a string of disappointing results.
The seven‑time champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and his hopes of challenging for the championship have dwindled dramatically. The situation worsened in Madrid, where Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the year.
The failure to finish dropped him more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, for the first time this season. Antonelli now holds an 81‑point advantage over his teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points. When asked about his own title chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton responded with a dose of realism mixed with 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 hard to claw back a few points here and there. There’s still a long way to go. If we can hold onto second place in the Constructors' standings – or even catch Mercedes – that would be remarkable." Hamilton emphasized the need to compare the current season with last year’s performance, rather than dwelling on the gloom that often surrounds the team. "When you look at where we were last season and where we are now, you see progress.
It can feel doom‑and‑gloom, but you have to highlight the positives," he explained. Ferrari endured a win‑less 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship. Hamilton’s own stint in the red car has been unusually barren, with no podium finishes for the first time in his illustrious career.
The only bright spot came at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, where Hamilton secured his first victory of the year, followed by teammate Charles Leclerc’s win at Silverstone two races later. "We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, and the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades," Hamilton said. "You have to acknowledge the good things we’ve done.
Many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult given Mercedes’ dominance – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for the team." Hamilton’s comments reflect a broader narrative about Ferrari’s performance. The Scuderia often shows speed in the early phases of a race weekend, but strategic missteps and operational errors have repeatedly compromised their results.
"There are positives to take from the last few races, but the execution hasn’t been the best and the results suffered as a result," Hamilton admitted. "We learn from the areas where we were weaker, and I believe we can improve – and we are. I’m excited for this weekend." Meanwhile, George Russell, who sits 20 points ahead of Hamilton, has also been vocal about his challenges adapting to the brand‑new 2026 cars. After a season‑high deficit to Antonelli at the Spanish Grand Prix, Russell noted that his natural driving style is gradually meshing with the new machinery.
"I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again," he said in Baku, stressing the importance of maintaining that momentum through the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. Russell highlighted improvements in race pace, which had been a weakness earlier in the year. "Since the summer break, the race pace has been substantially better and we’re consistently in the mix," he explained.
"I feel more comfortable fighting for strong results. The chassis and power units won’t change much next year, maybe the tyres will be slightly different, so it’s crucial to keep building on this progress." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title hunt, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged.
"I’ll keep fighting every race until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed. "My goal is to win every race and take pole each time. The performance gap is huge, but it’s not my primary concern right now; delivering the best possible performance is." The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, all broadcast on Sky Sports.
The schedule starts on Thursday morning with F2 practice, followed by a full day of sessions on Friday and Saturday, culminating in the main Formula 1 race on Saturday midday. Fans can stream Sky Sports flexibly via the NOW platform, with no contract required and the ability to cancel at any time. In summary, Hamilton’s message to critics is clear: while Ferrari’s season has been marred by setbacks, the team has achieved notable milestones, such as race wins, podium finishes, and significant technical upgrades.
By focusing on these achievements and continuing to refine their strategy and execution, Hamilton believes the Scuderia can still finish the year in a respectable position, potentially securing a top‑three finish in the Constructors' Championship – an outcome he would deem a "huge achievement" given the challenges faced throughout the campaign.