Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be hailed as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged detractors to shift their focus toward the positives that have emerged over the course of a challenging year, despite a string of recent setbacks that have dampened the team's title hopes. The former seven‑time world champion and his Ferrari outfit have seen their aspirations for the 2025 world title dwindle as the season has progressed. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and the gap to the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, widened dramatically after Hamilton’s first retirement of the year in Madrid.
That retirement left the Briton more than 100 points adrift of Antonelli, effectively ending any realistic chance of contesting the title. Antonelli now commands an 81‑point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, underscoring the dominance of the Red Bull‑powered driver. When asked about his own championship prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton responded with a blend of realism and optimism. "He's 101 points ahead of me," Hamilton said, noting that Antonelli had amassed roughly 40 points in just two races, while Mercedes and Ferrari have been scrabbling for incremental gains.
"There is still a long way to go," Hamilton added, emphasizing that the primary goal for Ferrari is to secure second place – or at the very least, to keep the team within the top three – in the Constructors' Championship. "If we can hold on to second – if not somehow catch Mercedes – for the constructors', I think that would be remarkable." Hamilton highlighted the importance of perspective, urging fans and pundits alike to compare the current season with last year’s performance. "It sometimes seems doom and gloom, but you actually have to look at the positives," he said. The Scuderia endured a winless 2025 campaign and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while Hamilton himself endured a historically difficult first season in red, failing to reach the podium for the first time in his illustrious career.
Nevertheless, there were bright spots. Ferrari secured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, with Hamilton crossing the line first, and Charles Leclerc followed up with a win at Silverstone two races later. Hamilton used those successes to illustrate the team's resilience: "We've been fighting, we've had wins and podiums, the team have done an incredible job in terms of bringing upgrades, so you really have to acknowledge the good things that we've done this year." He acknowledged that many observers fixate on the negatives, but he believes that staying in the top three – or even climbing to second – would constitute a "huge achievement" for the team. At present, Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points in the drivers' standings, a gap that reflects both the competitiveness of the Mercedes duo and the strategic missteps that have plagued Ferrari in recent weeks.
Ferrari has consistently shown speed in qualifying and early race phases, yet operational and strategic errors have often undermined their results. "I think there's positives to take out of the last few races, it's just they haven't been, I would say, the best in terms of execution and we've not had the best results," Hamilton explained. He remains confident that the team can learn from its shortcomings and improve moving forward.
"But the positives we take forwards and we try and learn from the areas we weren't as good. I believe we can make improvements and I think we have. I'm excited for this weekend." The broader context of the championship includes George Russell, who entered the season as the pre‑race favourite but has struggled to adapt his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars.
Despite a season‑high deficit to Antonelli, Russell has spoken openly about his progress, noting that his race pace has improved markedly since the summer break. "I've been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again," he said in Baku, emphasizing the need to maintain this upward trajectory through the remainder of the year and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. Russell also addressed the technical continuity between 2026 and 2027, pointing out that chassis and power‑unit designs will remain largely unchanged, with only modest tyre developments on the horizon.
"It's important I continue to build," he remarked, indicating that incremental gains will be crucial for both his and Mercedes' fortunes. Although Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, his approach to each race weekend remains unchanged. "I'm going to keep fighting every single race until it's mathematically impossible," he affirmed, underscoring his commitment to win races, secure pole positions, and extract the maximum performance from his car regardless of the points gap.
The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix 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, with streaming options available via the NOW platform, allowing fans to watch without a long‑term contract. The race weekend also includes supporting Formula 2 events, adding further excitement for motorsport enthusiasts. In summary, Hamilton's message to critics is clear: while Ferrari's season has been marred by setbacks and strategic blunders, the team has still achieved notable milestones, including race wins and podium finishes.
By focusing on these achievements and continuing to develop the car, Hamilton believes Ferrari can finish the year in a respectable position, turning a season that many have labeled a disappointment into a testament of perseverance and incremental success. The next few races, especially the high‑profile Azerbaijan Grand Prix, will be pivotal in determining whether those positives can be solidified into a strong finish for both Hamilton and the Scuderia.