Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari has become one of the most difficult campaigns of his illustrious career, with the seven-time world champion struggling to find form in his 19th year at the top level of motorsport. For the first time since entering Formula 1, the British driver has gone more than ten consecutive races without a podium finish. Sixteen rounds into his Ferrari career, his best results remain three fourth-place finishes in Imola, Austria, and Britain.
At his first Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver, Hamilton crossed the line in sixth place at Monza. That result lifted his tally to just 117 points, leaving him sixth in the drivers’ standings. Since Formula 1 adopted its current points system in 2010, Hamilton had never before collected so few points after 16 rounds. His underwhelming debut campaign in red has led to criticism, including from former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi, who suggested Hamilton’s attitude has not been ideal. Alesi argued that the Briton should have played a greater role in helping Charles Leclerc during qualifying at Monza, particularly since Hamilton himself had offered to provide a slipstream. Ferrari, however, chose not to use such a strategy.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has indicated that Hamilton views the post-Monza stretch of the season as a fresh beginning, suggesting that he still has the motivation to fight on. Yet not everyone shares that optimism. Former Williams driver Derek Daly has voiced a far more critical opinion, stating that the best course of action for Hamilton at this stage would be to consider retirement. Daly described Hamilton as a driver who had “suffered” since joining Ferrari, and he attributed the move more to marketing value than competitive performance.
Daly argued that Hamilton was once among the most naturally gifted drivers in the history of the sport, but insisted that age had inevitably taken away some of those reflexes and instincts that made him unbeatable in his prime. He said it was simply a fact of life that at 40 years old, a driver cannot physically maintain the same level of sharpness as a rival twenty years younger. Daly felt Ferrari made a smart marketing move by signing Hamilton, but he believed that both the team and the driver had suffered competitively as a result. In his view, Hamilton must come to terms with the reality that his peak years are behind him and should consider moving on to the next stage of his career.
Behind the scenes, Ferrari are already assessing long-term options for when Hamilton eventually steps away from the cockpit. Although his current contract runs through the end of 2026 with an option for 2027, the team is monitoring several potential successors. Rising star Gabriel Bortoleto has impressed with strong rookie results at Sauber, and Ferrari are reportedly keeping close tabs on his development. Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren is also being watched carefully, as the Australian is under contract until 2028 but could seek an early exit.
Speculation has also linked Red Bull’s reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen to a potential switch to Maranello, should circumstances with the two teams’ competitiveness align in 2026. If Hamilton were to step aside, Verstappen would immediately become Ferrari’s top target. However, Ferrari insiders suggest that Oliver Bearman is the most likely successor once Hamilton’s Ferrari adventure concludes, with the young Briton already being groomed for a future full-time seat.
For now, Ferrari are not expected to part ways with Hamilton before his contract expires, and it would be a major surprise if he retired before seeing what the 2026 regulation changes bring. Yet much depends on Ferrari’s performance with the new era of cars. If the Scuderia fail to deliver a competitive package, pressure for change could accelerate, and Hamilton’s time in red may come to an earlier end than planned.
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