Ferrari Exit : Lewis Hamilton has FINALLY confirmed and pronounced his exit… Read more
Lewis Hamilton Rebuts Exit Rumors, Commits to Ferrari Through 2026
After a turbulent Formula 1 weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix, speculation was rife that Lewis Hamilton might be on the brink of exiting Ferrari. The seven-time world champion’s self-deprecating comments and poor performance unnerved fans and pundits alike—even fueling talk of an imminent retirement. But in reality, Hamilton is doubling down on his commitment to the Scuderia.
Hamilton’s weekend in Budapest was challenging. He qualified 12th after a tough Q2, then finished the race in the same position—over a lap down from the leaders. That prompted an emotionally charged moment when Hamilton clutched his helmet and called himself “useless,” even suggesting Ferrari might need “a new driver.” His frustration resonated: a RacingNews365 poll found that while 51.1% of fans believe patience is the way forward, 31.6% feel Hamilton should retire from F1 altogether.
Despite that, Hamilton quickly put speculation to rest. He confirmed his seat at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, declaring, “I look forward to coming back, I’ll be back.” The comments reflected a determination not to be derailed by one difficult weekend.
In broader statements, Hamilton has emphatically dismissed rumors about leaving F1. He stressed that he’s “here for the long haul” and that he remains invested in Ferrari’s long-term vision under team principal Fred Vasseur. Vasseur, for his part, has been outspoken in his belief that success is still on the horizon and that the team’s unified focus will yield improvements—especially with the major 2026 technical regulation changes approaching.
Ferrari’s outlook remains positive: they rank second in the Constructors’ Championship, though well behind dominant McLaren. Internally, momentum is building as the team adapts its development strategy and leadership to navigate both 2025 and the transformative 2026 season.
Toto Wolff, longtime collaborator and former Mercedes team principal, also weighed in—defending Hamilton and attributing his struggles to adaptation challenges with the current ground-effect regulation rather than any lack of motivation or intent. Meanwhile, ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone questioned whether Hamilton “should stop now,” citing signs of fatigue—but even those comments largely fell flat against the driver’s own resolve.
As the sport enters its summer recess, all eyes are now on the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort—another pivotal moment for Hamilton to regain momentum and silence the chatter around his future. But one thing’s clear: there’s no exit, no farewell announcement, only a driver ready to fight on.
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