Lewis Hamilton has taken a surprisingly upbeat stance on Ferrari’s 2025 campaign, insisting that the Italian squad can still claim a "huge achievement" if they manage to finish the season inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. The seven‑time world champion urged observers to focus on the positives rather than the negative headlines that have surrounded the team’s recent performances.
The optimism comes at a time when both Hamilton and Ferrari have seen their hopes of fighting for the championship wane. The British driver has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a string of setbacks has left the team well off the pace of the leading cars. In Madrid, Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the year, dropping more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli – a gap that, for the first time this season, placed the title out of his realistic reach. Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton sits a further 20 points behind Russell in the standings.
When asked about his own title chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton replied candidly: "He's 101 points ahead of me. In just two races he gained around 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, but if we can hold on to second place – or even catch Mercedes in the Constructors' battle – that would be remarkable." Hamilton emphasized the need to keep perspective, noting that "when you compare where we were last year with where we are now, it can look bleak, but you have to look at the positives." He reminded listeners that Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while his own first year in the red car had been unusually barren of podium finishes.
Yet the team did manage to secure a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, followed by a win for Charles Leclerc 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. "People tend to focus on the negatives, but if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him – which would be very difficult because Mercedes are the leaders – staying in the top three, even second, would be a huge achievement for us as a team." Hamilton’s comments also touched on the operational challenges that have hampered Ferrari’s recent results. He acknowledged that the squad has shown speed in qualifying and early race phases, but strategic missteps and execution errors have often cost them valuable points.
"There are positives to take from the last few races, but they haven’t been the best in terms of execution and we haven’t had the best results," he admitted. "We learn from the areas where we were weaker, and I believe we can improve – and we are already seeing some progress. I’m excited for this weekend." The narrative surrounding the championship is further complicated by the performances of Antonelli and Russell.
Antonelli, who has won the last two grands prix, now boasts eight career victories in what has been described as an "extraordinary" second season in Formula 1. Russell, the pre‑season favourite, has been open about the difficulties of adapting his natural driving style to the all‑new 2026 cars.
Nevertheless, he reported significant progress in Baku, stating, "I've been making very good progress and feel confident I can fight for victories again." Russell highlighted the importance of maintaining that momentum throughout the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027. He noted that while the chassis and power units will remain largely unchanged, tyre developments could introduce new variables. "The race pace, which was a weakness, has improved dramatically since the summer break.
I now feel more comfortable that I can fight for great results," Russell said. "From now until the end of the season, we’ll see how the points fall out, but next year will be pretty similar." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible," he affirmed.
"It doesn’t change how I do my job – I want to win every race, take pole every race. That's my goal. The performance gap is huge, but it’s not the primary consideration right now; delivering the best possible performance is." The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises 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 additional coverage on the NOW streaming platform. Fans can expect a full weekend of action, including F2 support races and a range of pre‑race analysis shows.
In summary, Hamilton’s message to critics is clear: despite a season that has featured more setbacks than triumphs, there are still reasons for optimism. By acknowledging the upgrades, the hard‑won victories, and the learning curve the team is navigating, Hamilton believes Ferrari can finish the year on a high note. Whether that translates into a podium finish in the Drivers' standings or a strong showing in the Constructors' table remains to be seen, but the champion’s focus on positivity and incremental improvement offers a refreshing counterpoint to the prevailing "doom and gloom" narrative.