Just in:Lewis Hamilton issues fresh Ferrari plea after sudden re…. read more
Lewis Hamilton issues fresh Ferrari plea after sudden re…. read more
Lewis Hamilton has made it clear he has no intention of giving up at Ferrari, despite a difficult start to his 2025 Formula 1 campaign. This comes amid speculation that the seven-time World Champion might consider retiring if his struggles continue, a theory suggested by former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.
Hamilton’s much-anticipated move from Mercedes to Ferrari over the winter has not gone as smoothly as many hoped. Across the first five races of the season, he has not finished higher than fifth. Although he managed to clinch victory in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, Hamilton was later disqualified from the main event due to excessive skid-block wear.
Since the disqualification in China, Hamilton revealed that Ferrari has had to run the car “higher than we would like,” worsening his performance. In recent races — Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia — Hamilton has consistently qualified behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, trailing by at least 0.311 seconds. In the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton finished a staggering 30.969 seconds behind Leclerc.
After the Saudi race, Hamilton admitted to reporters, including PlanetF1.com, that the current situation is “painful” and is unlikely to improve before the end of the season, suggesting there is “no fix” in sight. Additionally, he revealed that both he and the team were dissatisfied with his recent results, hinting at internal pressure.
Despite the challenges, Hamilton made a public appearance in London ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, encouraging fans to stay positive. “Please keep your fingers crossed. I’m not going to give up,” Hamilton told the crowd. “We’re going to keep getting better. Still we rise, right?”
His comments come after Ralf Schumacher speculated that Hamilton could walk away from the sport at the end of the season. Speaking on Sky Germany’s Backstage Pit Lane podcast, Schumacher suggested that Hamilton might decide he no longer finds enjoyment in F1 if results don’t improve. Schumacher said, “If it goes on like this, there’s a risk he’ll say: ‘I don’t want this anymore. I want to live my life now, I’m 40 years old, and I’m so rich. Why should I continue doing this to myself?'”
Schumacher also pointed out how difficult the transition has been for Hamilton, adding that while Ferrari and Hamilton had ambitious plans, the reality has been far from ideal, with Leclerc clearly outperforming him. “I wouldn’t have thought it would be so extreme,” Schumacher remarked.
However, Schumacher acknowledged Hamilton’s abilities, noting that when conditions align — as seen during the sprint race in China — Hamilton can still deliver top performances.
Although Ferrari did not officially confirm the exact length of Hamilton’s contract when announcing his signing in early 2024, PlanetF1.com reports that it runs at least through the end of the 2026 season. This means Hamilton is committed to Ferrari for at least another two seasons, by which time he will be approaching his 42nd birthday.
Despite the current adversity, Hamilton’s resolve seems strong, signaling that he is ready to endure the tough times with hopes of future success at Ferrari.
