Hamilton's Ferrari Podium Wait Continues: Azerbaijan Grand Prix Key to Preserving Record Streak

Lewis Hamilton faces mounting pressure as his streak of securing a podium finish in every Formula 1 season hangs by a thread. With just eight races remaining in his inaugural Ferrari year, the seven-time world champion is still searching for his first top-three finish with the Scuderia, a performance gap he aims to close this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.\n\n### Why it matters\n* Hamilton's unprecedented 18-season podium streak, dating back to his debut, is on the line. Extending this to 19 years would be another remarkable F1 milestone.\n* Ferrari, despite sitting second in the Constructors' Championship, is the only top-four team yet to win a race in 2025, intensifying the pressure for a strong finish to the season.\n\n### The Big Picture\n* Hamilton has recorded eight top-six finishes in 2025, with fourth-place results at Imola, the Red Bull Ring, and Silverstone marking his best performances.\n* The Scuderia has not celebrated a Grand Prix win in almost a year, since October's Mexico City Grand Prix, fueling the desire for a breakthrough.\n\n### The Details\n* Monza Momentum: Despite a five-place grid penalty carried over from Zandvoort, Hamilton expressed feeling "solid progress" with the SF-25 car at the Italian Grand Prix, qualifying fifth and racing to a sixth-place finish from P10.\n* Driver Assessments:\n * Hamilton remains cautious about immediate podium chances, stating Ferrari's pure pace puts them "fourth, fifth" behind Red Bull and McLaren. He believes "an exceptional job" is needed for a podium.\n * Teammate Charles Leclerc highlighted Singapore, Baku, and Las Vegas as potential circuits where Ferrari might be "a bit closer to win a race."\n* Team Principal's Confidence: Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari team boss, is optimistic about Hamilton's podium prospects. He pointed to Hamilton's ability to fight George Russell in recent races and Ferrari's historical strength in Baku, where Leclerc has secured the last four pole positions.\n\n### What's next\n* The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku is the immediate focus, a track traditionally suiting Ferrari's car characteristics.\n* Ferrari's overarching goals for the remainder of 2025 include securing second place in the Constructors' Championship and achieving at least one race win.\n* The Scuderia currently holds a 20-point lead over Mercedes and 41 points over Red Bull in the Constructors' standings.