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Lewis Hamilton thinks Ferrari’s season can still rank as a “huge achievement” if they end up in the leading 3 of the Drivers’ Championship, asking critics to “look at the positives” of the group’s year regardless of current problems.
Hamilton and Ferrari’s hopes of winning this years world title have actually faded in current races, with the Briton not completing on the podium given that the British Grand Prix at the start of July.
A very first race retirement of the season last time out in Madrid saw third-placed Hamilton fall over 100 points back on championship-leading Kimi Antonelli for the very first time this season, with the seven-time champ all-but yielding the title.
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Antonelli’s general lead at the top of the standings is 81 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Inquired about his own champion potential customers heading into weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the season’s 15th of a set up 23 rounds, Hamilton stated: “Well, I suggest, he’s 101 points ahead of me.
“Just in 2 races he got something like 40-odd points on me, and we’ve been working so difficult to acquire simply a number of points occasionally.
“There is still a long method to go and I believe the focus for me is, if we can hang on to 2nd – if not in some way capture Mercedes – for the manufacturers’, I believe that would be impressive.
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Craig Slater breaks down the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, consisting of why the race happens on a Saturday, while doing his finest Craig David impression!
“I think it’s also just having to think about where we were last year and where we’ve come to this year and whilst it sometimes seems doom and gloom, you actually have to look at the positives.”
Ferrari sustained a winless 2025 project and slipped to 4th in the Constructors’Championship, with Hamilton himself experiencing a challenging very first project in red without any podiums for the very first time in his profession.
He won for the very first time at June’s Spanish Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc thriving 2 races later on at Silverstone.
Please utilize Chrome web browser for a more available video gamer Lewis Hamilton commemorated his very first Ferrari triumph in design after winning the Barcelona-Catalunya GP, tossing his prize into the air before the champagne spray started.
Hamilton included: “We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, the team have done an incredible job in terms of bringing upgrades, so you really have to acknowledge the good things that we’ve done this year.
“I understand great deals of individuals concentrate on the negatives. For me, once again, if I can cope George and in some way get ahead of him, which would be extremely hard as Mercedes are the leaders … if at the end of the year, handling to remain in the leading 3, even 2nd, I believe would be a big accomplishment for us as a group.”
Hamilton is 20 points behind Russell, his former Mercedes team-mate, in the standings.
‘I believe we can make improvements’
Ferrari have consistently looked competitive early on in race weekends but the team’s recent results have often been compromised by operational and strategic issues within their own control.
“I believe there’s positives to get of the last couple of races, it’s simply they have not been, I would state, the very best in regards to execution and we’ve not had the very best outcomes,”stated Hamilton.
Please utilize Chrome web browser for a more available video gamer Lewis Hamilton was required to retire early at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“But the positives we take forwards and we try and learn from the areas we weren’t as good. I believe we can make improvements and I think we have.
“I’m delighted for this weekend.”
Russell: I feel confident I can fight for victories again
The Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago also saw Russell fall a season-high margin behind Antonelli, who has won the last two grands prix to take his tally to eight overall in an extraordinary second campaign of F1 so far.
Russell, the pre-season title favourite, has spoken openly about his difficulties in meshing his natural driving style to the all-new 2026 cars but believes the situation is improving, saying in Baku on Wednesday that “I’ve been making great development and feel great I can defend success once again”.
He underlined the importance of continuing that trend all through the rest of this season ahead relatively stable winter of regulations into 2027.
“I believe it is extremely essential to attempt and solve some concerns, which, as I discussed in the past, I believe I’ve been pleased with that development given that the summertime break,”stated Russell.
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“The race pace, which was a weakness, has been substantially better and has been in the mix every single race since the break.
“And I now feel more comfy that I can defend excellent outcomes.
“Let’s see from now until the end of the season how the points could fall out. But next year is going to be pretty similar. Not much has changed with the chassis, not much has changed with the power units. Maybe the tyres are going to be slightly different from what we hear. So, it’s important I continue to build.”
He has actually successfully ruled himself out of title contention, Russell states his technique to each race weekend will not alter.
“I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible,” he worried.
Please utilize Chrome web browser for a more available video gamer Kimi Antonelli states the group has all eyes on its long-awaited upgrade bundle showing up in Malaysia
“But it doesn’t change how I go about my job. I want to try and win every single race and put it on pole every single race. That’s my goal.
“That’s what I’m working towards each and every single weekend, and what occurs afterwards will be. And there’s undoubtedly a substantial deficit, however it’s not even truly a factor to consider today. It’s simply the efficiency is the greatest concern.”
Sky Sports F1’s Azerbaijan GP live schedule
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Thursday September 24
6.55 am: F2 Practice
9am: Azerbaijan GP Practice One (session begins at 9.30 am) *
10.55 am: F2 Qualifying *
12pm: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
12.30 pm: Azerbaijan GP Practice Two (session begins at 1pm)
2.15 pm: The F1 Show
Friday September 25
5.10 am: F2 Sprint *
9.15 am: Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (session begins at 9.30 am) *
11.10 am: F2 Feature Race 1 *
12.30 pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying accumulation *
1PM: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING *
3pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Saturday September 26
7.55 am: F2 Feature Race 2
10.30 am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP accumulation *
12PM: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX *
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP response *
3pm: Ted’s Notebook *
* likewise reside on Sky Sports Main Event
Racing on a Saturday! The 2026 Formula 1 season continues survive on Sky Sports F1 today as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix begins a triple-header of races, with the Baku race occurring on Saturday at midday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no agreement, cancel anytime
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