F1, Ralf Schumacher on Hamilton: “I Wouldn’t Rule Out Retirement!”

Surprising words from Ralf Schumacher regarding Lewis Hamilton after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The former German driver, now a well-known voice in the paddock—and the first to spark rumors of a potential Verstappen-Red Bull split—was scathing in his comments about the seven-time World Champion. Following the race in Jeddah, Hamilton admitted he was struggling immensely with the SF-25, with growing pessimism within his side of the Ferrari garage about the outlook for the season.

Hamilton’s start to the season has fallen short of expectations, particularly among Ferrari fans. He has consistently been outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc, with the sole exception being the Sprint race in China—his only real highlight so far in red. However, two major factors should not be overlooked: the considerable adjustment period required to adapt to Ferrari’s unique operational style, and a car that—despite early promise—has been underwhelming to date.

Hamilton or Ferrari: Who’s to Blame? Ralf Schumacher Weighs In

Speaking to Sky Sport DE, Ralf Schumacher commented candidly on Hamilton’s early days at Ferrari:
“Lewis can’t seem to manage the Ferrari. People talk about Norris, but this is worse. He’s clearly demoralized. When you find yourself in a situation where you’re constantly off the pace and losing your edge, you start to lose everything. I speak from personal experience.”

The former F1 driver didn’t hold back: “If things continue this way, it won’t be fun anymore. At some point, you wake up in the morning and ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this? I’m not enjoying it, I can’t take it anymore. I’m just holding the team back”. “.

Schumacher went on to raise an even more dramatic possibility:
“If it keeps going like this, there’s a real chance that Lewis could say: ‘I don’t want this anymore. I want to live my life—I’m 40, I’m wealthy, and I no longer need this.’ Clearly, something isn’t working. What Ferrari and Hamilton envisioned was a major project, but right now, he’s far off Leclerc’s pace. I never imagined the gap would be this wide“.

A sharp and direct critique—one that raises serious questions about Hamilton’s future and Ferrari’s trajectory.

Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, ralfschumacher_rsc