Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be regarded as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship, urging fans and pundits to focus on the positives rather than the recent setbacks. The seven‑time world champion, who has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, acknowledges that the title fight has slipped away but believes the team’s overall progress deserves recognition. The season’s turning point arrived in Madrid, where Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the year.
The loss dropped him more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, marking the first time this season that the gap exceeded a century of points. Antonelli now leads the standings by 81 points over Hamilton’s teammate George Russell, leaving Hamilton with a steep uphill battle for any meaningful championship contention. When asked about his own prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a scheduled 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied with a mixture of realism and optimism: "He's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained about 40‑odd 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, if possible, catching Mercedes in the Constructors' battle – which would be remarkable." Hamilton went on to stress the importance of perspective: "We have to compare where we were last year with where we are now. It may look like 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 first year in the red car has been unusually barren of podium finishes.
Nonetheless, the team secured a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and Charles Leclerc added a win at Silverstone two races later, proving that the car is capable of competing at the front. "We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, and the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades," Hamilton said.
"Many people focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult as Mercedes are the leaders – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Currently, Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers' standings. He noted that Ferrari often shows strong pace in practice and qualifying, but recent races 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 have suffered," he explained.
"We learn from the areas where we weren’t as good, we make improvements, and I’m excited for this weekend." The broader context of the championship includes Antonelli’s dominant form – he has won the last two Grands Prix, bringing his career total to eight victories in an impressive second season. Russell, the pre‑season favourite, has struggled to adapt his natural driving style to the brand‑new 2026 cars but has reported steady progress. Speaking in Baku, he said, "I’ve been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." He emphasized the need to maintain this momentum through the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027.
Russell also addressed the technical challenges that have plagued his campaign, noting that race‑pace deficits have improved significantly since the summer break. "The race pace, which was a weakness, is now substantially better and competitive every race," he said. "I feel more comfortable that I can fight for great results. Let’s see how the points fall out 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 – so it’s important I keep building." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title hunt, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged: "I’ll keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible. I want to win every race and take pole every race. That’s my goal, regardless of the deficit. Performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule, with practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself spread over three days.
Sky Sports will broadcast the event live, offering flexible streaming options through the NOW platform. Fans can expect a full day of action on Saturday, when the Grand Prix kicks off at midday, followed by post‑race analysis and commentary. In summary, Hamilton’s message is clear: while the championship may no longer be within reach, Ferrari’s season should not be dismissed as a failure.
The team has shown flashes of brilliance, secured race wins, and delivered meaningful upgrades. By concentrating on the progress made, learning from past mistakes, and maintaining a fighting spirit, Hamilton believes the Scuderia can finish the year on a high note, potentially securing a top‑three finish in the Drivers' standings and delivering a respectable Constructors' result.
This balanced outlook aims to temper the gloom that has surrounded recent performances and to celebrate the tangible achievements that have been earned despite a challenging year.