Lewis Hamilton showed his frustration in Baku when asked whether Ferrari should now be considered Formula 1’s fourth-fastest team. The seven-time world champion questioned why the label should matter and admitted that he did not know exactly where the Scuderia currently sits in the competitive order.
The exchange came at the end of a difficult period for Lewis Hamilton, whose 2026 campaign has lost considerable momentum since the optimism surrounding his Silverstone podium at the beginning of July.
Lewis Hamilton’s momentum has faded since Silverstone
After finishing on the podium at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton was 32 points behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and was still openly allowing himself to think about a possible championship challenge. Ferrari were also preparing to introduce their most substantial power unit update, creating hope that the Italian team might be able to take the fight to Mercedes.
Since then, however, Lewis Hamilton has gone six Grands Prix without another podium. Across that sequence, the British driver has recorded two fourth places, two fifth places, one sixth place and one retirement.
The championship picture has deteriorated accordingly. Lewis Hamilton’s deficit to the leader has increased to 103 points, dramatically changing the outlook compared with the situation after Silverstone. The seven-time world champion has already acknowledged how much Ferrari’s title prospects have faded, with 2027 increasingly emerging as an important test for the project.
The difficult results have also coincided with several tense moments. There were disagreements with Ferrari at Zandvoort, friction involving Charles Leclerc at Monza and further frustration with the pit wall during qualifying in Baku.
Lewis Hamilton frustrated by Ferrari pecking-order question
Lewis Hamilton has made little effort to hide his disappointment during recent interviews, occasionally directing particularly sharp observations towards Ferrari. The run of negative results has clearly changed the tone surrounding a season that had looked considerably more promising earlier in the year.
In Baku, Lewis Hamilton was asked whether he agreed with the suggestion that Ferrari had now become Formula 1’s fourth-fastest team.
“Why should any of this matter? Why should I agree?” Lewis Hamilton responded. “I don’t know if we’re third or second, I have no idea. For now, it’s clear that we’re not the second-fastest team. But today we were ahead of McLaren, so maybe we’re third.”
The answer reflected the uncertainty surrounding Ferrari’s current position rather than offering a definitive ranking. The Scuderia have struggled to establish a consistent hierarchy against Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull, with the broader competitive picture available through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
What is clear is that Lewis Hamilton’s outlook has changed significantly since the early summer. A 32-point championship deficit and hopes of challenging Mercedes have been replaced by a six-race podium drought, a 103-point gap to the championship leader and increasing frustration over Ferrari’s place in the Formula 1 pecking order.
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