Lewis Hamilton’s Future in F1 Uncertain as Ferrari Struggles Spark Retirement Spec… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season has not started as hoped, with the seven-time World Champion enduring a tough opening to his new chapter. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has now raised concerns that Hamilton could walk away from the sport by the end of the 2025 season if his situation doesn’t improve, citing a lack of fun and diminishing performance.
Hamilton’s transition from Mercedes to Ferrari was one of the biggest moves in recent F1 history. Fans and experts anticipated a title-contending partnership between the British legend and the Scuderia. However, reality has been far less promising. Though Hamilton managed a win in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, the main event brought him back down to earth with a disqualification, and he’s struggled to find consistency ever since.
Across the first five races of the 2025 season, Hamilton has yet to finish higher than fifth in any Grand Prix. At the Saudi Arabian GP, he placed a distant seventh — more than 30 seconds behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured Ferrari’s first podium of the year with a third-place finish. The contrast between Hamilton and Leclerc’s performances has raised eyebrows, and critics are beginning to question whether the British driver’s move to Ferrari can yield the success he hoped for.
Ralf Schumacher, speaking on Sky Germany’s Backstage Pit Lane podcast, expressed his concern over Hamilton’s current form and body language. “He just can’t cope with the car,” Schumacher said. “We talk a lot about Lando Norris, but it’s almost worse with Hamilton. You can see that he’s really slumped over.” He added that continued underperformance can become demoralizing, possibly leading Hamilton to consider retirement.
Reflecting on his own F1 experience, Schumacher said, “If it goes on like this, it’s no fun anymore. At some point, he wakes up in the morning and thinks to himself: ‘Why am I doing this to myself? I’m no longer having fun. I’m getting in the way of my team.’” He emphasized that Hamilton’s wealth, age, and legacy could make stepping away from the sport an appealing option if the struggles persist.
Though the exact length of Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari was never publicly revealed, it is widely believed to run through the end of the 2026 season. However, Schumacher suggested that if the current trajectory continues, Hamilton might not see it through to the end. “There’s a risk that he’ll say: ‘Look, I don’t want this anymore. I want to live my life now, I’m 40 years old. I’m so rich, I’m not doing this to myself anymore,’” he concluded.
Despite these concerns, there are glimpses of potential. Schumacher acknowledged that when the conditions align, Hamilton still has the speed. “China also showed that as soon as he gets into the car and the track and the car suit him, he delivers. There’s still something to come,” he noted.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur remains confident in Hamilton’s abilities and has offered his full support. Speaking to media in Jeddah, Vasseur dismissed any long-term concerns. “I will be 2,000 percent behind him. I will give him support and we will start from tomorrow morning to find solutions and reasons.”
Vasseur acknowledged the current issues with car balance and tyre management but reaffirmed his belief in Hamilton’s potential. “If you look at what he did in China or the race in Bahrain, or even in the first part of this weekend’s session, the potential is there. We just need to adjust the balance,” he said.
While the start of the 2025 season has been far from ideal for Hamilton, both the team and driver know there’s still time to turn things around. But if the struggles continue, retirement may no longer be just speculation — it could become a reality.
