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Lewis Hamilton could leave F1 behind if 2026 struggles persist at Ferrari

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Archer | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 8:15 AM ET

Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari in 2025 didn’t go as planned, and he’s hoping the 2026 campaign gives him a chance to change the narrative that followed.

Hamilton, now 41, joined Ferrari in early 2024 after back-to-back winless years with Mercedes. But his first year in Maranello was another tough one, marking the most difficult season of his 19-year F1 career.

His time at Ferrari started on a high note, winning the F1 Sprint in China from pole position during the second round of the season. However, Hamilton failed to build on that early success and finished the year without a single Grand Prix podium—a first for him since joining Formula One.

Across 24 Grands Prix and six Sprints, Hamilton managed just 156 points, placing him sixth in the standings. It was his lowest total under the scoring system introduced in 2010. In comparison, teammate Charles Leclerc picked up seven podiums and finished with 242 points.

Lewis Hamilton might move on from F1 If 2026 doesn’t go his way

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Fred Vasseur is reportedly already weighing up potential replacements, with Ferrari said to be monitoring Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren, as well as Oliver Bearman’s progress at Haas.

Hamilton’s hoping the new 2026 regulations can give him a fresh start, with a car that better suits his driving style. But according to Gazzetta dello Sport, if he doesn’t turn things around, his time in Formula 1 could be nearing its end.

The Briton wants to change the narrative around his disastrous 2025 season and what is largely seen as ‘catastrophic’ statistics. But if the new year doesn’t go any better for him, Hamilton could shift his focus toward goals and ambitions well outside of not just Ferrari but Formula 1 as a whole.

Lewis Hamilton looked more and more deflated as the Ferrari 2025 season went on

Throughout the 2025 season, Hamilton appeared increasingly deflated as he struggled to find form. After qualifying 12th while Leclerc took pole in Hungary, Hamilton suggested Ferrari might be better off with a different driver. It marked one of nine occasions that year where he failed to progress into Q3.

He described his time at Ferrari as a “nightmare” following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where he retired due to damage sustained after contact with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. Later in the season, he qualified last on merit for the first time in his career at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The struggles continued late into 2025. He missed out on Q1 exits at each of the final three races—Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—and managed just one finish higher than sixth across the last dozen Grands Prix: a fourth place in Texas.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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