The 2026 Formula 1 season will undoubtedly be a decisive one for the career of Lewis Hamilton. It could mark a long-awaited revival for the seven-time world champion, or, on the contrary, represent the definitive twilight of his Formula 1 journey, potentially leading to retirement.
This question is being widely debated within the Formula 1 paddock, particularly after the disappointing 2025 season experienced by the British driver. What began with a near-messianic reception for car number 44 at Ferrari ultimately turned into a nightmare, both for the Scuderia and for Sir Lewis Hamilton himself. Over the course of the entire campaign, he failed to secure a single podium finish or claim a race victory.
Car or driver?
The responsibility has largely been attributed to the car, but the internal comparison with teammate Charles Leclerc proved brutally one-sided. The Monegasque driver regularly featured on the podium and managed to outscore Lewis Hamilton by more than 100 points in the drivers’ championship standings.
It is a trend Lewis Hamilton is eager to reverse as soon as possible, banking on the introduction of the new technical regulations, the arrival of an all-new generation of Formula 1 cars, and a new race engineer who is expected to be announced shortly. An additional year of experience within the Ferrari environment could also play an important role in helping Hamilton adapt and recover competitiveness.
This pivotal 2026 season was discussed by 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill during an interview on the podcast The Undercut. In his analysis, Hill also referenced the situation of the other over-40 driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso, suggesting that 2026 could represent the final Formula 1 season for the Spanish veteran as well.
Hill leaves little room for doubt
The former Williams driver then turned his attention squarely to Lewis Hamilton, going as far as to suggest that “The Hammer” could even contemplate stepping away from Formula 1 before the end of the season if results were to remain underwhelming.
“This has to be their last year,” Damon Hill said, “unless Ferrari produces an extraordinary car or Adrian Newey waves his magic wand at Aston Martin and Fernando has a clear path to winning the title. In any case, one of the two will have to step aside, because they cannot both win.
“If Lewis has another year like the last one, I don’t think he will make it to the end of the season, because I think he has lost the joy of doing all this. You can’t just sit there. He doesn’t need to sit in the car and score points when Charles Leclerc can win or achieve more. He doesn’t need to be there.”
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