Lewis Hamilton Urged to Quit F1 After Ferrari Struggles

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - The future of Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1 has come under renewed scrutiny after former F1 driver Derek Daly suggested the seven-time world champion should consider stepping away from the sport following a deeply challenging debut season with Scuderia Ferrari.

Hamilton endured a difficult first campaign in Ferrari colours, failing to secure a single podium finish across the season. It marked the first time in his Formula 1 career that he completed an entire championship without a top-three result, a statistic that underlined the scale of Ferrari’s competitive struggles and Hamilton’s adaptation challenges.

The season was later described by Hamilton himself as the most demanding of his career, both technically and mentally. That assessment has fuelled broader speculation about whether the Briton will continue beyond the current regulatory cycle, particularly as Formula 1 prepares for sweeping changes in 2026.

Daly argued that Hamilton’s difficulties are unlikely to be resolved through technical development alone, pointing instead to the unavoidable physical realities faced by drivers competing at the highest level well into their forties.

“Hamilton undoubtedly is the greatest Formula 1 driver ever,” Daly told RacingNews365.
“I think he’s better than Michael Schumacher.”

However, Daly stressed that historical greatness does not override the physical demands of modern Formula 1, where marginal losses in reaction time and endurance can have decisive consequences.

“It’s not going to get better for him,” Daly continued.
“It’s a physiological thing. At 40-plus years of age, you’re not going to perform like 18, 19, or 20-year-olds.”

According to Daly, the issue is not a decline in skill or intelligence behind the wheel, but the natural limits imposed by age, regardless of past achievements or technical understanding.

“This has nothing to do with talent or how brilliant you were,” he explained.
“It’s the ‘you were’ that’s the problem. Lewis Hamilton’s great glory days are over. It’s not going to improve.”

Daly also issued a stark warning regarding Ferrari’s strategic decision-making, suggesting that persisting with Hamilton without competitive results could have consequences beyond the driver himself.

“If he doesn’t retire, whoever made the decision to bring him to Ferrari may end up being fired,” Daly said.
“Formula 1 is too big a stage to allow emotional decisions to rule teams.”

Taken together, Daly’s comments highlight the growing pressure surrounding Hamilton’s future and Ferrari’s long-term planning as the sport approaches a new regulatory era. Any decision Hamilton makes regarding retirement or continuation will carry significant implications not only for his legacy, but also for Ferrari’s competitive direction, a situation that will continue to be closely monitored by Sportrik Media at https://sportrik.com/en.