Lewis Hamilton told the ‘fact of life’ he must realise after suffering from Ferrari ‘marketing’ move

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Lewis Hamilton’s first season for Ferrari continues to be one of his worst campaigns in the pinnacle of motorsport so far in the seven-time world champion’s 19-year career.

Never before the 40-year-old raced in red for the first time this term had he failed to reach a Grand Prix podium through more than 10 rounds. Yet Hamilton is now 16 rounds into his life as a Ferrari driver, and his best results are P4 in the Grands Prix in Imola, Austria and Britain.

A P6 finish at Monza in his first Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver also only moved the 105-time race winner to 117 points for sixth in the F1 drivers’ standings. He had never previously scored fewer than 153 in 16 rounds since the current points-scoring system started in 2010.

Jean Alesi has criticised Hamilton’s “attitude” at Ferrari, as well, as the iconic Scuderia driver says the Briton should have helped Charles Leclerc in qualifying for the Italian GP. Ferrari did not ask him to, even though Hamilton offered to give Leclerc a slipstream for pole at Monza.

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton told the ‘best thing’ he can do is to retire from F1

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes Hamilton feels a new season begins now for the Stevenage-born star after the Italian GP, too. Yet ex-Williams ace Derek Daly thinks the “best thing” that Hamilton can do now is to retire from F1, having “suffered” since joining Ferrari.

READ MORE: How Lewis Hamilton’s mid-2025 results compare to Ferrari’s past champions

Hamilton moved to Maranello for the 2025 F1 season on a two-year deal in what Daly calls a “marketing decision” by Ferrari. But Daly feels Hamilton has lost the “gifts” that brought him vast success and that it is a “fact of life” the 40-year-old must accept that his age is a cause.

“Hamilton was one of the most gifted racing athletes the world has ever seen,” Daly has told RacingNews365. “But I think we’ve seen his best days.

“Physiologically, you just can’t have instincts and reflexes at 40 years of age that 20-year-olds have. That’s just a fact of life. It’s human nature. I don’t think Hamilton has access to those gifts at the level he had in the past.

“Ferrari made a marketing decision to bring Hamilton, a brilliant one, but not a competitive decision. The team has suffered. I think Hamilton has suffered, and I do not see it getting better. I do not see more success for Lewis at the level he had in the past at Ferrari.

“The best thing that could happen is that Lewis realises that and makes the decision himself to go off and do the next step of his career.”

Ferrari are already monitoring potential Lewis Hamilton replacements, including Oscar Piastri

While Hamilton has a contract for the 2026 F1 season, which also includes the option to stay in 2027, Ferrari are starting to consider who can one day replace the Briton. Reports suggest Ferrari are monitoring Gabriel Bortoleto after the Brazilian’s strong rookie results for Sauber.

Also, Ferrari are attentive to Oscar Piastri’s situation at McLaren in case the Australian looks to try to get out of his contract through 2028 early. It has also been said that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is waiting to replace Hamilton at Ferrari depending on both teams’ cars in 2026.

The four-time reigning champion would likely shoot straight to the top of the Scuderia’s list of successors for Hamilton should the seven-time champion retire. But Ferrari have already chosen Oliver Bearman as Hamilton’s most likely replacement once the 40-year-old retires.

Ferrari are not looking to replace Hamilton before his contract expires, and it would be very surprising if the Briton hangs up his gloves before experiencing what the Scuderia can do in the 2026 regulations era. But if Ferrari’s car is a flop next season, a change may then follow.