Ralf Schumacher explains when Lewis Hamilton could ‘pull the plug’ on F1 career this season

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Questions about Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formula 1 have been swirling around since his disastrous first season at Ferrari in 2025, and many think his career could be over in 2026.

Now aged 41, Hamilton has struggled to compete since he lost the 2021 title to Max Verstappen. The ground effect era did not suit his driving style, winning just twice between 2022 and 2025.

His first year in Maranello in 2025 was a nightmare, by his own admission. Hamilton ‘resented’ his first season at Ferrari as the team did not listen to his feedback for the SF-25, which he struggled to get to grips with.

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Finishing sixth in the standings with no podiums for the first time in a calendar year, Q1 exits became common. Hamilton sparked speculation about his future in F1 when he suggested that he should be replaced at the Hungarian GP.

However, the seven-time champion is determined to keep fighting, having made wholesale changes around him behind the scenes, including his race engineer. The 2026 regulations could be just what Hamilton needs, but retirement remains a possibility.

Ralf Schumacher thinks Lewis Hamilton could leave F1 if he realises he is ‘no match’ for Charles Leclerc

Hamilton has a contract with Ferrari until at least the end of 2027, but many have suggested that he could walk away from the sport earlier than that. There were even some who thought he could call it quits in 2025, but he has emphatically ruled that out.

However, his lack of results in recent years has prompted people to question whether the 41-year-old should leave F1. Bernie Ecclestone urged Hamilton to retire as he feared that fans would forget his past success.

Many in F1 think Hamilton is facing the same fate that Michael Schumacher suffered with his return at Mercedes, in that he struggled to perform and did not know when to retire.

Stefano Domenicali says Hamilton is feeling confident ahead of the 2026 season and the regulation changes, but Ralf Schumacher thinks that he could ‘pull the plug’ on his career if he cannot match Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in the first three or four races.

He told Bild: “That’s tough, but possible. Lewis struggled last year. That’s why he wants to prove himself again. But if he realises in the first three or four races that he’s no match for Leclerc or the car, he could pull the plug himself.”

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Lewis Hamilton is being backed to return to form with Ferrari in 2026

Even if the regulations do suit Hamilton, which many hope or think they will, beating his teammate remains an issue. Jolyon Palmer saw that Leclerc was happier than Hamilton in the car during testing.

However, many are still holding out hope that the Brit can recover his form and be competitive this season. Lando Norris is certain Hamilton will be back in 2026 and fighting at the front of the grid.

Likewise, Will Buxton thinks that prime Hamilton will return under the new regulations. Pre-season testing would suggest that Ferrari are in a good position in 2026, with radical technical innovations seemingly giving them an advantage.

F1 fans are backing Hamilton for the title as the overwhelming favourite. They think he can deliver Ferrari their first drivers’ title since 2007, but most importantly, his record-breaking eighth championship.