“The team has no problem. The car’s on pole, they probably need to change their driver.” This is what Lewis Hamilton said mid-2025 Formula 1 season after a premature exit in qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
After a disappointing sixth-place finish in the season, he now has a reason to stay back with Scuderia Ferrari for the 2026 season, as the seven-time world champion declares, “I am not going anywhere.”
Last year, after breaking a 14-year bond with Mercedes, Hamilton joined hands with Ferrari and spent most of the season visibly frustrated and depressed. He called it a “nightmare” and the “worst” season of his career for it was the one that ended without a single race win or podium.
The only moment of celebration came when he won the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix in just his second outing with the SF-25. The rest of the season was defined by setbacks. When he was forced to withdraw from the Brazilian Grand Prix with a damaged car, the pain was written all over his face.
“It’s a nightmare,” Hamilton admitted. “I’ve been living it for a while. The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team and then the nightmare of the results that we’ve had,” he said.
Overall, Hamilton finished 86 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured seven podiums and a top-five championship finish behind George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris.
Lewis Hamilton Ends Retirement Talk
Given this, the Briton, who turned 41 this January, had sparked retirement rumours late in the season. But now, entering his second year with Ferrari and chasing a record-breaking eighth world title, the narrative has shifted. The winter break and new regulations have brought renewed hope to the Italian paddock.
The 41-year-old has dismissed all exit talk. “I’m reset and refreshed,” he said, signalling a clear shift in mindset.
“I’m not going anywhere, so stick with me. For a moment, I forgot who I was, but thanks to you and your support, you’re not going to see that mindset again,” he wrote on Instagram after pre-season testing in Bahrain.
“I know what needs to be done. This is going to be one hell of a season. I’ve given everything to be here today. Let’s go, team,” he added.
Lewis Hamilton says he’s “not going anywhere” 🤩👊#F1 pic.twitter.com/NUzo2Xompr
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 23, 2026
What changed Lewis Hamilton’s mindset ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season?
And it all began with the first test drive in the SF-26. After a disastrous 2025 season that saw Ferrari finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, they adapted well to the new regulations. The team showed promising pace in both Barcelona and Bahrain testing.
The redesigned SF-26, built under the new 50-50 electric-hybrid regulations, completed 324 laps in Bahrain. Leclerc set the fastest lap of Friday afternoon with a 1:31.992s.
Hamilton topped the Barcelona private shakedown. In Bahrain, he completed 516 laps across sessions. On Day 1, he finished fourth fastest with a 1:36.433. In the second test, his personal best was a 1:33.408, placing him seventh in the final combined standings.
“That Ferrari, for the second practice start in a row, has been the rocket launcher on the grid,” commented David Croft.
“It’s something that Ferrari are doing consistently better than anyone else,” added Anthony Davidson. “It sounds good. He even had to back out of it slightly because others were going so slowly. A sweet start there.”
Also Read: F1 2026 Preview: Why Ferrari Could Dominate The Formula 1 2026 Season
The shorter, narrower, and 30kg lighter Ferrari features a radical rotating rear wing that flips on straights to reduce drag, along with a switch to push-rod suspension to improve airflow and mechanical grip. All that hard work appears to have reignited belief within the team and within Hamilton.
“It’s inspiring to watch a team pull out all the stops to build a car. It’s the most fascinating part of this job for me,” Hamilton said in his Instagram post.
“Everything is built from scratch and designed and redesigned over and over. And then there are only a few of us who get to put that machine to the test. That feeling never gets old. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone back at the factory for the hard work to get to this point. I am truly grateful.”
