Guenther Steiner on Lewis Hamilton's Future: Retirement Possible if Ferrari Doesn't Deliver in 2026

Guenther Steiner, former Haas F1 team principal, suggests Lewis Hamilton could retire from Formula 1 if he fails to find success with Ferrari next season. Hamilton's inaugural season with the Scuderia has been challenging, concluding at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with his last chance for a main race podium, having only achieved top-three finishes in sprint races.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari was met with sky-high expectations, a union of a seven-time world champion and F1's most iconic team. However, reality has set in, as his performance has significantly declined in recent rounds. His potential retirement would mark a seismic shift in Formula 1, opening a new chapter for both the sport and Ferrari, who desperately need a competitive package to reignite his championship ambitions.

The details:

• Hamilton has endured a difficult maiden season with Ferrari, failing to secure a main race podium finish as the season concludes.
• He only managed top-three finishes in the China and Miami Sprint races, highlighting the team's struggles.
• After a brief resurgence post-summer break, Hamilton's performance has dramatically decreased, notably in Qatar where he was eliminated in both SQ1 and Q1 and finished outside the points in both the sprint and main races.
• Steiner's Verdict: "I think we all had too high expectations. The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, a GOAT, going to Ferrari, the most iconic Formula One team. And then obviously beginning of this year, reality hits."
• Hamilton's hopes are pinned on the new power unit regulations in 2026, believing they will better suit his driving style, unlike the current ground effect era which he has found particularly challenging.
• The pressure is now squarely on Ferrari to provide a competitive car for 2026. Steiner anticipates "some changes coming" if they fail to deliver by 2027.

What's next:

Lewis Hamilton will give himself the 2026 season to assess his competitiveness with Ferrari. If the new regulations and Ferrari's package prove successful, he will likely continue his career. However, at over 40 years old, a lack of competitiveness could push him towards retirement. Steiner notes, "Hopefully Lewis can come back. He never liked the ground effect cars, the cars under the current regulations. Next year there is no ground effect anymore, so let’s see what he can do then. He will have been a year at Ferrari, he knows their culture, he’s more mature at Ferrari. Let’s see what happens next year. And if it isn’t happening next year, I think there will be some changes coming."