Lewis Hamilton has argued that Ferrari’s 2025 campaign can still be hailed as a "huge achievement" if the Scuderia manages to finish the year inside the top three of the Drivers' Championship. He urged pundits and fans alike to focus on the positive aspects of the team’s performance, even though recent races have been marked by setbacks and missed podiums.
The British champion’s own hopes of challenging for the world title have all but evaporated after a string of disappointing results. Hamilton has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in early July, and a race‑ending retirement in Madrid left him more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, for the first time this season.
Antonelli now enjoys an 81‑point cushion over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails Russell by 20 points. When asked about his championship prospects ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar – Hamilton responded with a measured perspective: "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. My focus is on holding onto second place in the Constructors' standings, or even catching Mercedes, 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." Hamilton highlighted that Ferrari endured a winless 2025 season and slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, while his own stint in the red car has been unusually barren – he has not secured a podium until his surprise victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. Charles Leclerc’s win at Silverstone two races later offered a glimmer of hope for the team.
"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." Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari’s early‑weekend pace often looks competitive, but recent races have been hampered by operational and strategic missteps 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 suffer as a result," he explained.
"We learn from the areas where we were weaker, we make improvements, and I’m excited for this weekend." The broader context of the championship features Antonelli’s dominant form; he has won the last two Grands Prix, taking his career total to eight victories in just his second full season. Russell, who entered the year as the pre‑season favourite, has struggled to adapt 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. The race pace, which was a weakness, has improved substantially since the summer break." Russell emphasized the importance of maintaining this upward trajectory through the remainder of the season and into the relatively stable regulatory environment expected for 2027.
"It’s crucial to resolve the issues we identified, and I’m pleased with the progress since the break," he said. "The chassis and power units haven’t changed much, and tyre specifications may only be slightly different. The focus now is to keep building on the gains we’ve made." Even though Russell has effectively ruled himself out of the title fight, his approach to each weekend remains unchanged. "I’ll keep fighting every race until it’s mathematically impossible," he asserted.
"My goal is to win every race, aim for pole position, and deliver the best performance possible. The points deficit is a reality, but it doesn’t dictate how I do my job. Performance is the priority." The weekend schedule is packed with support series and F1 action.
On Thursday, September 24, the day begins with F2 practice at 9:00 am, followed by qualifying and the team bosses’ press conference, before moving into F2 practice two and the F1 show in the afternoon. Friday, September 25, features the F2 sprint, the third F2 practice session, the F2 Feature Race 1, and the build‑up to Azerbaijan GP qualifying, which takes place at 1:00 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, hosts the second F2 Feature Race, the build‑up to the Grand Prix, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself at noon, the post‑race reaction at 2:00 pm, and another edition of Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm. All sessions are also streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
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In summary, Hamilton’s message to the media and fans is one of cautious optimism. While the season’s headline numbers may not reflect a title challenge, the combination of race wins, podium finishes, and a steady stream of technical upgrades suggests that Ferrari can still finish the year on a high note. By acknowledging both the shortcomings and the achievements, Hamilton hopes to reshape the narrative from one of gloom to one of measured success, emphasizing that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' or Constructors' standings would be a testament to the team’s resilience and progress.