Lewis Hamilton reflects on a disappointing first season with Ferrari. Expectations were high in advance, but the seven-time world champion failed to deliver the results the tifosi were hoping for. Partly due to the lack of victories and podiums from the celebrated Brit, the team has now stalled at a mediocre fourth place among the constructors. Günther Steiner draws a gloomy conclusion: Hamilton’s retirement is approaching.
After a bombastic reception in Maranello in January, Hamilton was supposed to make the difference for Ferrari this year. However, it quickly became apparent that the former champion could not cope with the deficient SF-25. With the exception of a sprint victory in China, he did not get further than a fourth place. This gives him one last chance during the season finale in Abu Dhabi to maintain a special record: Hamilton finished on the podium at least once in all his Formula 1 seasons. His last performance in Qatar offers little hope: Hamilton was eliminated twice in Q1 and finished outside the points in both the sprint and the main race.
The 40-year-old Brit himself has shifted his focus to 2026 and the new technical regulations. Perhaps Ferrari will then be competitive enough to compete for victories and podium places. According to former Haas team boss Günther Steiner, a lot depends on that new era; he thinks Hamilton would be better off retiring if he does not make progress in 2026.
‘Too High Expectations’
“I think we all had too high expectations,” Steiner told Lottoland. “The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the absolute top player, goes to Ferrari, the most iconic Formula 1 team. And then, of course, reality hits hard at the beginning of this year. He is certainly giving himself time next year to see where he stands, and if he is competitive, he will stay longer. But if he is not competitive, his retirement is imminent. After all, he has already passed forty.”
However, Steiner does not rule out that ‘the old Hamilton’ will rise again next year. “Of course, Lewis can come back,” he noted. “He has never been enthusiastic about the current regulations and these ground effect cars. Those will disappear next year, so let’s wait and see what he can show then. He will also have a year at Ferrari under his belt and will have become familiar with the culture. We will see what 2026 brings.”
