Lewis Hamilton is feeling “optimistic” about his chances of finally securing a podium finish in the remaining eight races of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Currently competing as a driver for Ferrari, Hamilton has yet to finish in the top three this year, a stark contrast to his illustrious career where he has never gone an entire season without a podium since his debut in 2007. Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for September 19-21, Hamilton acknowledges that while a win may be “far-fetched,” he is eager to improve his performance.
In his recent outings at Zandvoort and Monza, Hamilton qualified just one-tenth of a second behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc. This marks a significant improvement compared to earlier races this season, where he often found himself further behind. “A win is a bit far-fetched considering I’ve been sixth, seventh, and eighth for most of the season,” Hamilton stated when discussing his prospects. “I would love to get a podium for the team at some stage; Charles has had five of them. I feel optimistic coming into the weekend. I feel like I’ve found a couple of things and now I need to work on extracting them.”
Leclerc also remains hopeful about Ferrari’s performance in Baku, suggesting that the upcoming races in Azerbaijan, Singapore, and Las Vegas could serve as critical opportunities for the Scuderia to close the gap on McLaren. McLaren is in a strong position to clinch the Constructors’ Championship, needing to outscore Ferrari by at least nine points in Baku. Leclerc emphasized his confidence based on past experiences at the Azerbaijan circuit, where he has achieved five consecutive pole positions.
“I still have this feeling, but mostly based on many years coming here, and most of the time we were not the favourites on paper, then we ended up having pole,” Leclerc explained. He also acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that pole position does not guarantee race pace. “That’s what we’ve been lacking in the past years. I don’t have a big hope that this year is going to be significantly different,” he added, recognizing McLaren’s current strength.
Despite the struggles this season, Hamilton and Ferrari’s hopes hinge on the upcoming technical regulations expected for 2026, which could significantly alter the competitive landscape. Hamilton expressed his desire to move past the current ground effect regulations, which he admits have been challenging for both him and Ferrari compared to his rivals.
“I don’t personally feel like these last races really have much bearing on next year,” he remarked. “Of course, the goal is to see progress and continue to work. But the more experience with the team, the more I grow with the team, and that experience will always pay dividends moving forward.”
As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches, the excitement builds around the potential for Hamilton to break his podium drought while Leclerc aims to leverage his strong history at the circuit. The race weekend promises to be a pivotal moment for both Ferrari drivers as they seek to improve their standings in the championship.
