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Hamilton’s Rocky Ferrari Start Fuels Retirement Speculation
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season was meant to be a thrilling final act in a storied racing career. After years of domination with Mercedes — where he equaled Michael Schumacher’s record with seven world championships — Hamilton’s shift to Ferrari was seen as a bold, last push to secure an eighth title. The switch was as symbolic as it was strategic, representing a new challenge with the sport’s most iconic team. But the reality of his start with Ferrari has been far from the fairytale many imagined.
Just a few races into the season, Hamilton’s performance has been underwhelming. He has struggled to find form in his new surroundings, and doubts are beginning to surface regarding his future in Formula 1. Retirement rumors have quickly gained traction as insiders observe signs that the British driver may be losing his usual spark.
The winter headlines were dominated by Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes. Many praised the move for its courage and vision, believing it might reignite Ferrari’s championship hopes. However, results on the track have yet to justify the hype. Hamilton appears to be grappling with the transition — especially when it comes to adapting to Ferrari’s current car. Reports suggest he hasn’t found a natural rhythm with the machine, and that he’s yet to feel fully at ease in the cockpit.
There are growing concerns within the paddock that Hamilton’s demeanor has noticeably shifted. Once animated and deeply engaged, he now seems more distant during race weekends. Former driver and commentator Ralf Schumacher has even remarked that Hamilton looks mentally checked out at times, suggesting that the fire which once fueled his competitive edge might be fading.
At 39, Hamilton remains the elder statesman of the grid. While he has maintained a high level of performance in recent seasons, Formula 1 remains one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports in the world. Ferrari was supposed to be a rejuvenating change, but cultural and structural differences between the Italian team and Mercedes are proving to be significant obstacles. Unlike his time at Mercedes, where Hamilton had a strong influence on car development, Ferrari operates with a more traditional and less driver-centric engineering approach. This misalignment has seemingly made it harder for him to extract top performance from the current car, particularly with a chassis that doesn’t suit his driving style.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur continues to publicly back Hamilton, expressing confidence that results will come. However, behind the scenes, tensions are rumored to be growing within Ferrari’s engineering teams — with differing opinions on how to best adapt the car to Hamilton’s preferences.
Despite maintaining a composed front in interviews and media appearances, sources close to Hamilton describe him as more introspective and reserved than usual. If Ferrari cannot provide a clear path toward competitiveness soon, insiders believe Hamilton could choose to walk away from Formula 1 — ending a legendary career not with a dramatic farewell, but with a quiet, contemplative exit.
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