Lewis Hamilton’s Baku frustration eased by silver lining as Ferrari struggles continue
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was another difficult weekend for Ferrari, yet one detail offered Lewis Hamilton a small sense of encouragement. While the seven-time world champion could only bring home eighth place, he still finished ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, something that would have seemed unlikely heading into the event given Ferrari’s expectations in Baku.
Ferrari had arrived with high hopes, especially since Charles Leclerc had secured pole position at the last four editions of the race. However, their weekend quickly unraveled. The Monegasque crashed in Q3, failing to deliver when it mattered most, while Hamilton was unable to progress into the final qualifying shootout. The result underlined Ferrari’s inconsistency, a theme that has cost them dearly in the battle for the Formula 1 constructors’ championship.
Meanwhile, Mercedes capitalized on the chaos. With George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli both scoring top-four finishes, the Brackley squad surged past Ferrari in the standings. At the same time, Max Verstappen’s victory for Red Bull reignited their challenge, ensuring the title fight remains wide open as the season develops.
Why Jamie Chadwick believes Hamilton can find positives
Although Hamilton left Baku frustrated, Jamie Chadwick, reflecting on the race for Sky Sports F1, suggested that the Briton still had reasons to remain optimistic. She noted that Hamilton once again demonstrated stronger pace than Leclerc, something that had become a pattern in recent weekends. According to Chadwick, this performance was particularly important in the context of the constructors’ battle, where consistent contributions from both drivers are essential.
She highlighted how Mercedes had gained massively in the standings thanks to having both Russell and Antonelli at the front. In contrast, Ferrari’s inability to field two competitive cars in the points meant that the Italian outfit dropped behind. Chadwick argued that Hamilton’s comparative advantage over Leclerc could become a valuable factor for Ferrari if both cars can start competing consistently near the top six, instead of scrapping for the lower points-paying positions.
Hamilton and Leclerc’s position swap confusion
The closing laps of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix offered another glimpse into Ferrari’s operational struggles. Charles Leclerc had initially let Hamilton pass in an attempt to attack Lando Norris, with the expectation that positions would be switched back if the move failed. However, the Briton never slowed sufficiently to hand eighth place back. The situation left fans questioning Ferrari’s communication and decision-making.
Former strategist Bernie Collins explained that the circumstances were far more complicated than they seemed. Hamilton had been instructed to allow Charles Leclerc back through, but at the same time was warned that Isack Hadjar was closing in rapidly, less than two seconds behind. Attempting to slow on the 300 km/h main straight without conceding to Isack Hadjar left Lewis Hamilton in a nearly impossible position, which may explain why the swap never materialized as intended. In the end, Lewis Hamilton crossed the line just half a second clear of Isack Hadjar, underlining how fine the margins were.
Hamilton frustrated by Ferrari’s missed potential
In his post-race media session, Hamilton made it clear that Ferrari had not maximized their potential in Azerbaijan. He admitted that while the SF-25 felt more balanced on race day compared to earlier sessions, the team had failed to execute in qualifying, leaving him out of position on the grid. That compromised their chances of competing with the frontrunners, forcing Ferrari’s drivers to battle only for eighth and ninth instead of challenging for a podium.
Hamilton emphasized that qualifying performance was the key weakness, stressing that the team must find solutions quickly. He acknowledged that while Ferrari’s race pace showed flashes of promise, mistakes in setup and strategy during qualifying had repeatedly undermined their weekends. According to the Briton, if Ferrari can improve its Saturday execution, the results would look very different.
Despite his disappointment, Lewis Hamilton also praised the effort of the Ferrari mechanics and pit crew, noting that their hard work allowed him to salvage points. He insisted that the focus now turns to the Singapore Grand Prix, where Ferrari must regroup and demonstrate progress. For the Briton, outperforming his Maranello teammate in Baku may be a small consolation, but the bigger objective remains unlocking Ferrari’s full potential in the coming rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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