Hamilton, who has not stood on the podium since the British Grand Prix in July, told a press conference that despite a first‑race retirement in Madrid and a widening points gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari’s season can still be judged a success if the team ends the year among the top three drivers.
He noted that Antonelli now leads the standings by 81 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell and that Hamilton himself trails the Italian by 101 points, a margin that grew after Antonelli gained roughly 40 points in the two races preceding the Azerbaijan round.
Ferrari, coming off a winless 2025 season and currently fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, have shown flashes of competitiveness this year, with Charles Leclerc winning at Silverstone and Hamilton securing a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Hamilton emphasized that the team’s progress on upgrades and occasional podiums should be recognised, adding that staying in the top three of the Constructors’ standings – or even finishing second – would be a “huge achievement” for Ferrari.
He also acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying that while catching Mercedes for the title may be unlikely, the focus now is on improving execution, learning from recent mistakes, and maintaining a strong fight with former teammate George Russell, who sits 20 points ahead of Hamilton in the drivers’ table.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 15th round of a 23‑race calendar, will be held on Saturday, marking the start of a triple‑header weekend that includes practice sessions, qualifying and the race itself.