Steiner sets out the one condition that would make Hamilton retire from F1

Hamilton’s pursuit of a historic eighth Formula 1 world championship suffered its biggest heartbreak during the dramatic 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi. The Briton looked set to seal the title before a late Safety Car turned the race upside down, paving the way for Verstappen to snatch victory in one of the most controversial endings in F1 history.

In the years that followed, Hamilton has struggled to consistently return to the front of the grid. Mercedes gradually lost the dominance it once enjoyed, while Red Bull established itself as the benchmark and McLaren also emerged as a major force before the current season. As a result, podium finishes became far less frequent for the seven-time world champion, and even his first campaign with Ferrari has so far failed to change that trend.

Speaking to a betting site, Steiner suggested Hamilton’s future in Formula 1 will largely depend on how much success he still believes he can achieve, stressing that the seven-time world champion no longer has anything left to prove to anyone other than himself.

Former Mercedes engineering director Aldo Costa admitted he now sees Hamilton’s chances of securing a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 world title as increasingly slim. While he would personally love to see the Briton achieve that milestone with Ferrari, Costa pointed out that age inevitably affects every driver sooner or later, with Hamilton now competing at 41 years old.

Costa also stressed that only those working directly with the seven-time world champion can truly judge whether any decline has already begun, although he noted that every driver eventually reaches that stage in their career. Another factor highlighted by the Italian was the presence of a team-mate he considers exceptionally strong alongside Hamilton at Ferrari.