Lewis Hamilton insists that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be counted as a "huge achievement" if the team manages to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers’ Championship. He urged observers to focus on the positives rather than the recent setbacks that have dominated headlines.
The former seven‑time world champion and the Scuderia have seen their title hopes evaporate over the last few rounds. Hamilton’s last podium came at the British Grand Prix in early July, and he has not been able to break onto the top step since. A race‑ending retirement in Madrid – the first for him this season – saw the Briton fall more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, effectively ending his own title bid. Antonelli now leads the standings by 81 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails the Italian by 101 points.
When asked about his own chances 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 two races he gained about 40‑odd points on me, and we’ve been working so hard to claw back a few points here and there.
There’s still a long way to go. My focus is on holding on to second place – or, if possible, catching Mercedes – in the Constructors’ Championship.
That would be remarkable." He added, "We have to compare where we were last year with where we are now. It sometimes looks 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’ standings. Hamilton’s first year in the red car has been unusually barren – he has not stood on the podium until his surprise victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, followed by Charles Leclerc’s win at Silverstone two races later. Reflecting on the season, Hamilton said, "We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, the team has done an incredible job bringing upgrades, so you really have to acknowledge the good things we’ve done this year.
I know a lot of people focus on the negatives. For me, 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 the team." Currently Hamilton sits 20 points behind Russell in the drivers’ table. While Ferrari’s cars have shown speed in qualifying and early race phases, operational and strategic missteps have often cost them valuable points.
"There are positives to take from the last few races, but the execution hasn’t been the best and the results reflect that," Hamilton explained. "We learn from the areas where we weren’t as good, we make improvements, and I’m excited for this weekend." The Spanish Grand Prix also saw Russell fall a season‑high margin behind Antonelli, who has won the last two races to bring his total to eight victories in an extraordinary second campaign. Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has been candid about the challenges of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars. In Baku he said, "I’ve been making 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 winter for 2027." He highlighted the improvement in race pace, noting that the car’s weakness in that area has been largely resolved since the summer break. "Now I 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 – so I need to keep building." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the championship fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged.
"I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed. "That doesn’t change how I do my job. I want to win every race and take pole every race – that’s my goal.
The performance gap is huge, but it’s not the only consideration right now; the priority is to keep improving." The upcoming Azerbaijan weekend features a packed schedule: practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, a sprint race, and the main Grand Prix on Saturday. Sky Sports will broadcast the action live, with streaming options available through NOW for viewers who prefer a contract‑free experience. In summary, Hamilton’s message is clear: despite a season that has often felt like a struggle against the odds, Ferrari has shown flashes of competitiveness, secured two wins, and delivered valuable upgrades. By concentrating on those achievements and continuing to refine their package, the team can still aim for a top‑three finish in the championship – a result Hamilton believes would be a "huge achievement" for both the Scuderia and himself.