Hamilton Vows to ‘Disappear’ After His Toughest Season as Ferrari Struggles Fuel Rising Doubts Ahead of 2026
Lewis Hamilton says he plans to completely unplug over the winter after enduring the toughest season of his career in his first year with Ferrari.
After finishing a year without a single grand prix podium for the first time, the seven-time world champion admitted he wants to disappear from the world for a while.
“I’m looking forward to the break — disconnecting, not speaking to anyone,” he said. “No one will reach me this winter. I won’t even have my phone. I’m throwing it in the bin.”
Hamilton’s miserable season — one he described as a “nightmare” — stands in stark contrast to the optimism that surrounded his high-profile arrival at Ferrari. The move was meant to revive his push for an eighth world title, but the campaign quickly unravelled.
Ferrari’s car lacked competitiveness from the start, and Hamilton struggled to adapt to its quirks. A sprint win in China offered brief hope, but both Ferraris were disqualified from the grand prix the next day for excessive skid wear — an issue that went on to plague the team several times.
While Charles Leclerc regularly extracted strong pace and out-qualified Hamilton 22–7, Hamilton often found himself frustrated and vocal, calling his own performances “useless” and venting on team radio. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur repeatedly downplayed his emotional comments, insisting tiny margins were punishing Hamilton in a tightly packed field.
However, Leclerc consistently performed better, qualifying on average P5.6 compared to Hamilton’s P9.5.
Tensions rose as Ferrari went winless for the first time since 2021. Chairman John Elkann even urged both drivers to “focus on driving and talk less”, though Hamilton continued to publicly express dissatisfaction, saying he wasn’t “looking forward” to next season and was carrying “an unbearable amount of anger”.
Despite everything, Hamilton insists his passion remains intact and his dream of winning an eighth title with Ferrari is still alive. He believes the major rule changes coming in 2026 could reset the competitive order and help the team rebound — especially after Ferrari shifted development resources early to next year’s car.
Still, the season raises uncomfortable questions. This is the second year in a row Hamilton has been outperformed by a younger teammate, and unlike past seasons, there were few standout moments of brilliance. He has struggled to adapt to the car regulations introduced in 2022, and some in the paddock wonder if age — Hamilton turns 41 in January — is beginning to play a role.
With sweeping changes to cars and engines coming next year, 2026 may be Hamilton’s best chance to prove he can still fight at the front. Whether he — and Ferrari — can bounce back remains one of F1’s biggest storylines heading into the new era.