Lewis Hamilton has voiced his belief that Ferrari can still claim a "huge achievement" this season if they manage to finish within the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged detractors to focus on the positives that the team has shown throughout the year, despite a series of recent setbacks that have clouded the campaign.
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 a title challenge have been further eroded by a first‑race retirement at the recent Spanish round in Madrid. That retirement dropped Hamilton from third place to more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, effectively ending any realistic chance of winning the drivers' crown. Antonelli now leads the standings by 81 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points.
When asked about his own championship aspirations ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th event 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‑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 even catching Mercedes for the Constructors' title – which would be remarkable." He continued, "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." Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while Hamilton endured a difficult first year in the scarlet livery, failing to secure a podium for the first time in his career.
The tide turned briefly when he captured his first victory of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and teammate Charles Leclerc followed with a 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 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 as Mercedes are the leaders – then finishing the year in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Hamilton emphasized that Ferrari's early‑season competitiveness often fell victim to operational and strategic errors that were 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 suffer because of that," he explained.
"We learn from the areas where we were weak, we make improvements, and I believe we have. I'm excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also saw Russell fall a season‑high margin behind Antonelli, who has now won the last two races and amassed eight victories in what has been an extraordinary second campaign in Formula 1.
Russell, who entered the season as the pre‑season favorite, has spoken openly about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. Yet he remains optimistic, noting in Baku that he has made "very good progress" and feels confident he can fight for wins again. He stressed the importance of maintaining that momentum throughout the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027.
"It's crucial to resolve some issues – I've been pleased with the progress since the summer break," Russell said. "Race pace, which was a weakness, has improved dramatically and we’ve been in the mix every race since the break.
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 – not much will change with the chassis or power units, maybe the tyres will be slightly different – so I need to keep building." Although Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I will keep fighting every single race until it becomes mathematically impossible," he asserted.
"That doesn't change how I do my job. I want to win every race and take pole at every race. That's my goal each weekend. The huge deficit is there, but it's not the main consideration right now – performance is the priority." The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule is packed with support events, including F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and feature races, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The weekend kicks off on Thursday, September 24, with F2 practice at 9:00 am, followed by qualifying and the Team Bosses' press conference. Friday sees the F2 sprint and the first F1 practice session, leading into qualifying on Saturday morning. The Grand Prix itself is slated for midday on Saturday, with post‑race analysis and commentary slated for the afternoon.
Fans can stream the action flexibly via the Sky Sports app, with recommendations to use the Chrome browser for the best video player experience. The service is available through NOW, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. In summary, Hamilton's message is clear: despite a season that has been marked by setbacks, operational hiccups, and a widening points gap, there are still reasons to be optimistic.
By acknowledging the upgrades, the wins, and the podiums that have been achieved, and by learning from the missteps, Ferrari can still finish the year in a respectable position. For Hamilton, staying in the top three of the Drivers' Championship – or even climbing to second – would represent a significant triumph for both him and the Scuderia, proving that even in a year that some have described as "doom and gloom," there are still bright spots worth celebrating.