One of the F1 stewards has explained what might be behind Lewis Hamilton’s possible thoughts of retirement and why the Ferrari steering wheel may be to blame.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was supposed to mark the beginning of a new triumphant chapter, but after the first nine races of the 2025 season, the seven-time world champion is still struggling to adapt to the Scuderia, and talks of retirement are already surfacing. Raising the alarm is Derek Warwick, former driver and FIA steward, who does not rule out the possibility of an early retirement for the Briton.
“I don’t know why Lewis can’t get going at Ferrari. It’s a mystery,” Derek Warwick told the Plejmo portal. “I think everyone saw his move to Maranello as a great opportunity to win the eighth title. But the car doesn’t suit him, and unlike Charles Leclerc, he can’t adapt.” – pointed out the British former racing driver, who competed in Formula One between 1981 and 1993.
Lewis Hamilton’s struggles and the retirement hypothesis
The former driver, who the World Sportscar Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans, both in 1992 with Peugeo and contested 147 Grands Prix in his career, highlighted the difficulties involved in joining a new team: “It’s underestimated, even by Lewis himself, how complicated it is to fit into a new environment. The systems, the debriefs, the communication… these are things that take time.”
At the moment, Ferrari does not appear to be in a position to fight for the title. McLaren is pulling away in the championship, while Maranello’s upgrades have not been enough to close the gap. With the 2026 regulations approaching, many teams are already shifting resources toward the future, making a comeback in the final part of the season unlikely.
Derek Warwick took the analysis further: “The most important element of the car today is the steering wheel, due to the countless available settings. Maybe Lewis hasn’t yet figured out how to get the most out of it.”
And then he made a shocking suggestion: “I want to see Lewis win again and get that eighth title he deserves. But if things keep going this way, I believe he’s already thinking about stopping.”
A bold statement, echoing through the paddock just as Hamilton faces one of the most challenging moments of his career.
Leave a Reply