Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari/6th) is fed up: “A pretty bad race”

Ten years of Formula 1 in Baku, ten years without a Ferrari victory – and 2026 is no exception. Baku specialist Charles Leclerc (four pole positions here) finishes fourth after starting from second on the grid, whilst Lewis Hamilton finishes in sixth place, the same position from which he started.

Ferrari never gave the impression on the Baku City Circuit that the Italians could secure a podium finish on their own merits, let alone win. Leclerc was pushed back to fifth place within the first five laps, whilst Hamilton complained over the radio about his tyres and looked toothless – managing just one overtaking manoeuvre, at the expense of Lando Norris. The seven-time world champion had no answer to the charging Kimi Antonelli.

Hamilton, winner of the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, said after the thrilling race: “From my point of view, it was a pretty bad race; I didn’t really make any progress.”

“I couldn’t keep up with the drivers in front of me and struggled to hold off those behind me. I simply lacked the pace today.”

“Basically, I couldn’t get the tyres to work all weekend. Towards the end of the first part of the race, the tyres suddenly started to grip properly, and I was suddenly setting the same times as everyone in front of me.”

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“Then we switched to the next set of tyres, and they just wouldn’t grip properly for the entire final part of the race, so I was just sliding around.”