So far, Lewis Hamilton is not having a stellar season with the Ferrari team. The former champion was brought to Maranello with much fanfare this year, but after five rounds in the current championship, he holds a mediocre seventh place. After qualifying in Jeddah, Hamilton also stated that he needs a ‘brain transplant’ to understand his car. Ralf Schumacher warns that if things continue this way, Hamilton may opt for early retirement.
Is the illustrious career of Lewis Hamilton about to fizzle out? Just a few years ago, he was setting the standard in Formula 1 and stringing championships together. However, since the new regulations of 2022, the 40-year-old Brit has been struggling with balance issues and a lack of speed compared to his competitors. His historic move to Ferrari gave his fans a glimmer of hope; with a new team and fresh motivation, he might finally be able to make another attempt to dominate the championship.
However, the results have not been forthcoming. So far, Hamilton has rarely been able to compete with the front runners, with the exception of a single sprint victory in Shanghai. After the GP of Saudi Arabia, where he crossed the finish line in seventh place, he once again seemed defeated. Ralf Schumacher is watching with regret as Hamilton loses his joy in racing. The German does not rule out that the celebrated Brit, if things continue this way, may opt for early retirement.
‘He’s Forty Years Old and Wealthy Enough’
“Lewis Hamilton simply cannot manage the Ferrari,” said Ralf Schumacher in a Sky Sports podcast. “We talk a lot about Lando Norris, but with him, it’s almost worse. You can see it, it’s really going downhill. If at some point you don’t have the resources and you keep getting slower, then you lose everything.” The former Formula 1 driver explained the psychological toll such struggles can take on an experienced driver.
“If it continues like this, I wonder how long Hamilton will still enjoy it,” Schumacher continued. “At some point, you wake up and think: why am I doing this to myself? I’m not enjoying it anymore, I can’t muster the energy. I’m just getting in the team’s way.” According to him, there’s a chance that Hamilton will eventually say: “I don’t want all of this anymore, I just want to live my life.” After all, he is forty years old and wealthy enough to never have to step into a Formula 1 car again.
However, there is hope for Hamilton fans, Schumacher emphasized. “In China, he showed that, provided the circuit and the car suit him, he can still give his best,” concluded the German. “There’s still something to win.”
