Derek Daly Urges Lewis Hamilton to Retire Amid Ferrari Struggles
Former F1 driver Derek Daly believes Lewis Hamilton should retire immediately, arguing that the seven-time champion's decline is physiological and that his struggles at Ferrari will only worsen.
Lewis Hamilton faced a brutal reality check in his debut season with Ferrari, failing to secure a single podium finish for the first time in his illustrious career. Former F1 driver Derek Daly has seized upon this downturn, urging the seven-time champion to retire immediately rather than face further decline, attributing the struggles to inevitable physiological aging rather than a temporary dip in form.
Why it matters:
The narrative surrounding Hamilton is shifting from record-chasing to legacy preservation. As Ferrari navigates a disappointing season and looks toward the 2026 regulations, the pressure mounts on the team to justify the high-profile signing. If Daly’s assessment holds true, Ferrari risks being anchored by a driver past his prime rather than benefiting from the experience of a legend, potentially forcing the team into difficult strategic decisions.
The Details:
- Physiological Decline: Daly was blunt in his assessment, stating that while Hamilton remains the greatest ever, his performance will not improve due to his age. He emphasized that at 40-plus, Hamilton cannot compete physiologically with drivers in their late teens or early 20s.
- Teammate Struggles: The criticism highlights a pattern of Hamilton being outpaced, noting difficulties against Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes, George Russell, and now consistently against Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
- Marketing Over: Daly labeled the Hamilton project a "marketing exercise" that has now concluded. He warned that if Hamilton does not retire, the Ferrari executives who hired him could face repercussions for making emotional decisions.
- Future Predictions: Daly predicts more "qualifying knockouts in Q1" if Hamilton continues, insisting he will not win another championship or a brace of races against Leclerc.
- Leclerc's Position: Despite Ferrari's poor car performance, Daly does not expect Leclerc to leave the team soon. He believes the Monegasque driver is too emotionally invested and that the team will prioritize poaching top engineering talent to fix the car before losing their lead driver.
What's next:
With new technical regulations set for 2026, the focus shifts to whether Ferrari can extract performance from its package. Daly remains skeptical about Hamilton's chances of turning the tide, suggesting the team needs to make rational decisions over emotional ones to avoid further embarrassment.