Lewis Hamilton has made it clear that he has no plans to retire from Formula 1 even if he secures a record-breaking eighth World Championship with Ferrari in the 2025 season.
The seven-time World Champion is gearing up for his debut season with Ferrari after making a high-profile switch from Mercedes on a multi-year contract during the winter. Reports suggest that his deal with the Italian team is worth approximately $57 million per year and will span at least the next two seasons.
Hamilton remains the most successful driver in F1 history, holding records for 103 pole positions and 105 race victories, alongside his seven world titles. However, in the past three seasons, he has only managed one pole position and two race wins, as Mercedes struggled to adapt to the sport’s ground-effect regulations.
The British driver came agonizingly close to clinching his eighth title at the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but was denied in the final laps, allowing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to claim his first championship. Some have speculated that had Hamilton won that race, he might have followed in the footsteps of former teammate Nico Rosberg, who retired just days after securing his 2016 title.
Reflecting on that period, Hamilton admitted that he briefly considered stepping away from the sport following the 2021 season but ultimately decided to continue. Now, as he prepares for his first season in Ferrari red, he has dismissed any notion of retiring if he finally claims the elusive eighth championship.
“If I was fortunate enough to win another title, which is obviously what we’re setting out to do, I don’t see myself stopping,” Hamilton said after testing Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, the SF-25.
When asked whether avenging his 2021 defeat had become an obsession, Hamilton downplayed the narrative, emphasizing that his primary focus is on winning his first title with Ferrari rather than his eighth overall.
“For me, it’s the first,” he stated. “Winning a championship with Ferrari is the goal. I’m not thinking about number eight—I’m thinking about bringing this team its first title in a long time.”
Ferrari has not won a Drivers’ Championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007, the same year Hamilton made his F1 debut. The British driver is determined to contribute to breaking that drought and believes the team has the right ingredients for success.
Hamilton acknowledged the fierce competition in F1, noting that many talented drivers never get the chance to win a title. However, he expressed confidence in Ferrari’s championship-winning pedigree, calling the team’s history and ambition “insane.”
With rivals like Red Bull, McLaren, and his former team Mercedes also in the mix, Hamilton expects a tight battle at the top. However, he praised the energy within Ferrari and believes the team is capable of achieving something special.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work from everyone, but belief is key,” he said. “Everyone here dreams of winning with Ferrari. Every single person in this team.”
Recent reports from Italy suggest that Ferrari’s 2025 car, the SF-25, is significantly quicker than its predecessor, potentially by as much as 0.4 seconds per lap based on simulator data. Ferrari has opted for a bold design philosophy, introducing a completely new car for the final season under the current regulations. One of the most significant changes is the adoption of a pullrod front suspension, a system favored by Red Bull and McLaren for its aerodynamic advantages under the ground-effect rules.
With a fresh approach and a determined Hamilton at the wheel, Ferrari is aiming to end its championship drought and return to the top of Formula 1.
Sir Lewis Hamilton addresses Ferrari retirement theory in response to 2021 ‘revenge’ mission claim
