Hamilton told no retirement for now, as risks outweigh 'real F1 nightmare'

18:30, 08 Dec

Updated: 18:34, 08 Dec

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byNorberto Mujica

Lewis Hamilton has completed the first podium-less season of his 18-year-long F1 career.

"It’s been a terrible season for him and it’s not a worthy way to end his career."

- Nico Rosberg.

Lewis Hamilton crossed the chequered flag in P8 after starting in P16 in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Race Pictures

Hard to believe, since the Briton was always able to muster podium-scoring and race-winning magic regardless of the quality of the cars he's driven in Formula One, with 2009 and every year under the current regulations, save this one, serving as evidence.

2025 has statiscally - and verbally - marked Hamilton's lowest point of his F1 tenure: struggling to make it into Q3, being unable to finish on the rostrum, and being completely outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc in every aspect.

The negative outcomes often brought about negative comments from the seven-time world champion, who after being knocked out in Q2 in Hungary suggested Ferrari should replace him.

After a fourth consecutive Q1 exit to see off the F1 2025 season in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton said he'd been left with a lot of anger, and doubted his chances of completing a successful outing in the race, which saw him end P8, completing a successful comeback drive into the points - in a severely underdeveloped Ferrari, having started the race in P16.

'F1 2025 not a worthy end to Hamilton's career'

Former Mercedes teammate - and rival - Nico Rosberg, advised Hamilton against retirement coming off the back of what's been a 'real nightmare' of a season.

"It’s been a terrible season for him and it’s not a worthy way to end his career," Rosberg told Sky F1.

“It’s so hard for him to deal with that because he’s being beaten by his teammate, struggling to get into Q2, spinning on his own – it’s a real nightmare.

“I think it’s even worse than it looks from the outside for him personally. He’s the greatest, and we’re never going to debate that, but still, it’s putting a little scratch on his legacy now.”

F1 retirement after just one season at Ferrari a loss of face for Hamilton

The German F1 champion then outlined the predicament Hamilton is currnetly in. On the one hand retiring from F1 after the bombshell transfer to Ferrari and the magnitude of the project would hinder Ferrari as well as Hamilton's credibility. Whereas to see out his full contract with the Scuderia poses its risk due to his age, inferred the former F1 driver turned analyst.

"He’s just really stuck, because retiring now, you can’t retire now. I mean, who are they going to replace him with?," Rosberg wondered.

“And that’s a bit of a loss of face, also, because, taking on this big project and then 12 months in, just because it’s difficult, just retire. That doesn’t work.

“And keeping on going… I mean, time is also not on his side, you know. And it’s not going to get easier. So that’s also really not an option. So it’s very difficult,” Rosberg concluded.

Hamilton goes off the F1 'grid' after Abu Dhabi GP

The 105-time Grand Prix winner plans to go completely off the grid during the winter break, saying he won’t carry his phone and wants to “unplug from the matrix” to return refreshed. Read his full comments here.

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