Lewis Hamilton has taken a surprisingly upbeat stance on Ferrari's 2025 campaign, insisting that the team can still claim a "major accomplishment" if they manage 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 season, despite a string of setbacks that have dampened the team's hopes of clinching the world title. The optimism comes at a time when both Hamilton and Ferrari have seen their title aspirations dwindle. The British seven‑time champion has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and Ferrari’s chances of securing the Constructors' crown have faded after a series of under‑whelming results.
In Madrid, Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the year, dropping 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, further widening the gap between the leading teams. When asked about his own championship prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied, "Well, I mean, he's 101 points ahead of me.
In just two races he gained about 40 points, and we've been working hard to claw back a few points here and there. There's still a long way to go, and my focus is on holding onto second place, or at least narrowing the gap to Mercedes for the Constructors' title.
That would be remarkable." Hamilton continued, "We have to remember where we were last year and where we are now. It may look doom‑and‑gloom at times, but you have to look at the positives." Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' standings, while Hamilton experienced a difficult first year in the iconic red livery, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career. The team did manage a breakthrough at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, where Hamilton claimed his first victory of the season, and Charles Leclerc followed with a win at Silverstone two races later. Reflecting on those achievements, Hamilton said, "We've been fighting, we've had wins and podiums, and the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades.
You really have to acknowledge the good things we've done this year. 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 given Mercedes' dominance – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Currently, Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points in the drivers' standings. He noted that while Ferrari often looks competitive in qualifying and early race phases, strategic missteps and operational errors have frequently undermined their results.
"There are positives to take from the last few races, but the execution hasn't been the best and the outcomes reflect that," he explained. "We learn from the areas where we fell short, and I believe we can make improvements – and we are. I'm excited for this weekend." The recent Spanish Grand Prix also saw Russell fall further behind Antonelli, who has now won two consecutive races, bringing his career total to eight victories in what has been an extraordinary sophomore season in Formula 1. Russell, who entered the year as the preseason favorite, has been open about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars.
Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in Baku, stating, "I've made very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again. It's important to keep that momentum through the rest of the season as we head into a relatively stable regulatory environment for 2027." Russell highlighted the improvements in race pace, a former weakness, noting that the car has been competitive at every event since the summer break. He added, "I now feel more comfortable that I can fight for great 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, maybe the tyres will be slightly different. It's crucial to keep building." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the championship battle, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged.
"I'm going to keep fighting every single race until it's mathematically impossible," he asserted. "That doesn't change how I do my job.
I want to win every race and take pole at every event. That's my goal each weekend, and the rest will follow.
The deficit is huge, but it's not the main consideration right now – performance is." The weekend schedule is packed with action, starting Thursday, September 24, with F2 practice sessions and the Azerbaijan GP practice one at 9:30 am, followed by qualifying and the team bosses' press conference. Friday features the F2 sprint, the third practice session for the Grand Prix, and the qualifying session that determines the grid for the main race on Saturday. The program continues with F2 feature races on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.
For fans looking to stream the action, Sky Sports offers a flexible NOW subscription with no contract, allowing viewers to watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the surrounding support races on any device. Using a Chrome browser provides the most accessible video player experience. Overall, Hamilton's message is clear: despite a season that has been marked by setbacks and criticism, there are still reasons for optimism. By acknowledging the team's progress, the upgrades delivered, and the occasional triumphs, he believes Ferrari can still finish the year on a high note, perhaps even securing a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship and delivering a respectable showing in the Constructors' battle.
The upcoming race in Baku will be a crucial test of whether those positives can be turned into tangible results.