Pundits Urge Hamilton to Retire Amid Ferrari Struggles

Lewis Hamilton faces mounting speculation about his Formula 1 future as pundits urge the seven-time world champion to consider retirement at the end of the 2026 season, even as he calls for greater driver involvement in shaping the sport's regulations.

The 41-year-old British driver, now in his second year with Ferrari after leaving Mercedes, has not won a grand prix since the British Grand Prix in July 2024. His 2025 debut season with the Italian team yielded no podiums, hampered by the challenging SF-25 car, while teammate Charles Leclerc secured seven podiums and a pole position. This year, Hamilton opened with a third-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix in March after battling Leclerc, but trailed in Japan and benefited from Leclerc's penalty in Miami to finish ahead.

Hamilton sits fifth in the drivers' standings, with Ferrari second in the constructors' championship behind Mercedes. Journalists and former drivers have predicted an imminent decision. On the NOSF1 podcast, Louis Dekker forecasted a retirement announcement at the British Grand Prix in July, Hamilton's record nine-time winning venue at Silverstone. "Ferrari is disappointing me," Dekker said. "They seemed to...