Dec.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is heading into the winter break with hypothesis about an early Ferrari exit louder than ever – and his personal phrases in Abu Dhabi have achieved little to quieten it.
The seven-time world champion has simply accomplished one of many worst seasons of his profession – no podiums in his Ferrari debut 12 months, one thing no Maranello rookie has suffered in 44 years.
Now, Hamilton says he’s shutting down fully.
“I don’t have a mindset for subsequent 12 months for the time being,” he informed Sky Italia.
“I simply need to swap off and never discuss to anybody. No person will be capable of attain me this winter. I gained’t have my cellphone with me. I’m wanting ahead to that. Simply being fully disconnected from the Matrix.”
He admitted he has by no means taken such a drastic method earlier than. “I’ve by no means put the cellphone within the rattling bin for a winter, I don’t suppose. However I’ll now.”
These feedback despatched the hearsay mill spinning once more.
Ralf Schumacher – who has repeatedly urged Ferrari ought to change Hamilton with Oliver Bearman for 2026 – stated the interview was “unusual” and “undoubtedly leaves issues open”.
Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former teammate, additionally believes the 40-year-old is internally conflicted.
“He’s in a bind,” Rosberg stated. “I’m positive he’d prefer to stop. However he can’t – that may be an enormous lack of face. He’s solely simply joined Ferrari, began this large mission. To stop now? He has no different possibility however to attempt once more.
“However it might get even worse. Time shouldn’t be on his aspect – he’ll be 41 quickly.”
Charles Leclerc, in the meantime, is urging Ferrari followers to not count on miracles in 2026 – and says a part of the chaos across the staff this 12 months was created by the hype of Hamilton becoming a member of him.
“It’s true we created too many expectations this 12 months,” Leclerc stated.
“When somebody like Lewis arrives at a staff like Ferrari, two icons of the game, it creates a number of hypothesis that’s troublesome to handle.
Every part taking place round us was out of our management – the one factor we are able to management is being united, pushing onerous, and staying motivated.”
Leclerc says he has no expectations in any respect for 2026.
“Will probably be carte blanche,” he stated. “We don’t know the place we begin, and we don’t know the place the others are.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur admits his personal name to halt SF-25 growth early – to prioritise 2026 – inflicted psychological harm internally.
“What I most likely underestimated is the psychological influence it had on everybody,” he stated. However he stays bullish about subsequent season: “The essential factor shall be growth. We’ll return to a Formulation 1 the place efficiency fluctuates.”
Pedro de la Rosa, who labored with Hamilton at McLaren, believes 2026 will decide the Briton’s future fully.
“I feel he’s ready to drive a very totally different automotive,” he informed DAZN.
“It’s Lewis’ final probability, but additionally for Ferrari. F1 wants Ferrari. With Hamilton and Leclerc they’ve two nice drivers – now they have to give them the automotive.”
Leclerc, regardless of being scheduled for the post-season Abu Dhabi check, admitted he needs he might skip it.
“The frustration after a 12 months like that is affecting me,” he stated. “I would like a break – to disconnect, then refocus for subsequent 12 months.”
