Lewis Hamilton believes the prospect of winning a race for Ferrari in his first season is “far-fetched”, with eight races to go in 2025.
The seven-time world champion, 40, has endured a difficult start to life at the Scuderia, having failed to finish on the podium in his opening 16 races with the team. While his best finish in a grand prix has been fourth, he did win the sprint race in China back in March.
Despite failing to win a race so far this year, Ferrari are actually positioned second in the constructors’ championship, but McLaren, the runaway frontrunners, can clinch the title at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Yet Hamilton, who finished sixth last time out at Ferrari’s home race in Monza, was realistic when asked about his prospects of claiming a maiden victory in red this season, but insisted he was “optimistic” going into the street race in Baku.
"A win is a bit far-fetched, considering I've been sixth, seventh and eighth for most of the season," Hamilton said on Thursday.
"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. So, I really hope that this weekend can be the start of that."
A new set of engine and chassis regulations next year threatens to shake up the pecking order in the sport, with Ferrari among many teams hoping for a fast start.
Hamilton has detailed previously how he has written documents to Ferrari engineers back at base in Maranello, in the hope of an improvement in performance next year. As for this year’s remainder, the Briton believes the final eight rounds “don’t have much bearing on next year.”
He added: "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, the things that we're learning, whatever lessons that we're faced with will definitely help for the future."
Leclerc, meanwhile, is confident heading into the Azerbaijan GP weekend amid a sensational streak of five consecutive pole positions - including the 2023 sprint - at the unique Baku street circuit.
"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 said.
"But that doesn't mean we can win on Sunday. Pole position puts you in the best possible place to start the race but that doesn't necessarily mean that we will have the 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.
"McLaren is going to be the strongest team alongside Red Bull, because I think that in Monza, they definitely had something that seems to be working very well.
“It's not going to be easy, but in the places where we have a bit more of a chance, I remain convinced that Baku is one of those."
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