Lewis Hamilton Expected to Retire If Ferrari Fails to Compete in F1 2026

JAKARTA - Lewis Hamilton is expected to decide to retire if Ferrari is unable to compete at the top of the standings in the hunt for the 2026 F1 world championship.

Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner said the British racing icon would be motivated again if Ferrari could compete in the championship.

"But if things continue like this, next season will definitely be his last in Formula 1," he said, quoted from TalkSport.

Hamilton had a bad first year after moving to Ferrari. He was only able to finish in sixth place in the F1 standings with 152 points.

The 40-year-old is 74 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc in fifth place, and has failed to finish on the podium at all in a full season for the first time.

Not being able to be competitive has led the seven-time champion to speak openly to the media about his disappointing debut with Ferrari.

Hamilton looked desperate on many occasions throughout the season, as he was unable to compete to win races.

"The situation is very difficult for him, as is evident in every interview. So, this will be a decisive season for him," said Steiner.

Hamilton himself refused to respond to talk of a possible retirement when asked about his future in F1 by the media.

Last summer, Hamilton also promised to stay at Ferrari until the end of his contract after rumors about his early departure emerged.

Hamilton's future in F1 is sure to remain a topic of conversation during the 2026 season, especially if Ferrari continues to struggle under the new regulations.