No, Lewis Hamilton has not retired; despite a difficult 2025 season and speculation, he is committed to Ferrari and is set to race for them in the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season, aiming for an eighth title with new car regulations and power unit changes.
Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton joined Ferrari for the 2025 season and was assigned Riccardo Adami as his race engineer, serving as the primary source of contact with the team over the radio during races. Adami had previously worked as the race engineer for Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton isn't replacing someone in 2025; rather, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is replacing Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2025 season, as Hamilton moves to Ferrari, with Antonelli stepping into the vacant seat alongside George Russell. So, while Hamilton leaves, it's Antonelli who takes his place at Mercedes, starting his F1 career.
Hamilton says he doesn't regret joining Ferrari; focused on 2026. Lewis Hamilton said his focus is already on 2026 after a disappointing first season with Ferrari, but stressed he does not regret joining the Italian team.
Lewis Hamilton SHOCKS the F1 World With Sudden Retirement... What the HECK Is Going On!?
What is the 75% rule in F1?
The F1 75% rule dictates that if a Formula 1 race is stopped but the leader has completed 75% or more of the scheduled distance, full points are awarded, unlike shortened races (under 75%) where points are reduced based on fractional completion percentages (25-50%, 50-75%). This ensures major points are given for races that are almost complete, even if red-flagged near the end, and is part of the Sporting Regulations for shortened races.
After hitting record highs in 2022, F1's U.S. viewership slipped in 2023 — averaging 1.11 million viewers per race, an 8% decline from the year before, according to Sportcal. It was still the second-most-watched season ever, but the drop marks a clear shift in momentum.
"My contract runs until 2028 but it [his future] will depend on the new rules in 2026, and if they are nice and fun," Verstappen told PA in an interview ahead of this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix. "If they are not fun, than I don't really see myself hanging around.
Ferrari has fallen from being regular podium contenders to often fighting for points. Inconsistent qualifying performances, questionable strategy calls, and fading race pace over a Grand Prix have cost the team valuable results – particularly in a season where the field has been exceptionally close.
Yes, Sir Lewis Hamilton has publicly stated that he has been diagnosed with ADHD, as well as dyslexia, and has spoken about how these neurodevelopmental conditions affect his life, including his focus in areas like cooking but also his ability to hyperfocus while driving, which he finds effortless. He often discusses his experiences to raise awareness about ADHD and advocate for neurodiversity.
Hamilton reportedly left Mercedes for Ferrari because the latter offered him a longer contract and more money. Furthermore, he had been in a losing slump—with no wins in 2022 or 2023—and hoped to revive his career on the new team.
Fernando Alonso holds the record for the longest Formula 1 career, having debuted in 2001 and still actively competing into the mid-2020s, spanning over two decades and setting records for seasons and race starts, making him the definitive longest-tenured driver in F1 history.
Number 17 is retired in Formula 1 as a permanent tribute to the late French driver Jules Bianchi, who tragically passed away from injuries sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix while racing with that number. The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) permanently retired the number in 2015 out of respect for Bianchi, making it unavailable for other drivers to use.
F1: The Movie (2025) Brad Pitt's F1 has minted considerable money at the box office, grossing $301 million worldwide. Brad Pitt has raced his way to the biggest box office haul of his career with Joseph Kosinski's F1. The racing drama has collected $300 million worldwide, as of July 7.
The first takeaway is a disclaimer for myself and you who are reading this: moral content matters. I have heard Hamilton and similar works lauded by professing Christians because they are “accessible” and “edgy.” In Hamilton's case, that entails a full course of off-color jokes, vulgarity, and occasional profanity.
Lewis Hamilton says he would "100 per cent" be open to being team-mates with Max Verstappen but claims the Red Bull driver wouldn't want to take him on in the same machinery.
In 2014, Jules Bianchi suffered a horrific crash at Suzuka that would claim his life almost 9 months later. While tragic, the legacy of his accident saw the introduction of new safety measures such as the halo and the Virtual Safety Car. The number 17 is retired in Formula 1 by the FIA as a tribute to Jules.
The FIA has called out the "tribalist" reaction to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and world champion Max Verstappen after they were booed at F1 75.
A Formula One car number is the number on a car used to identify a car and its driver. Currently, drivers are allowed to pick their own number for their career from 0, 2 through 99. Only the World Champion is allowed to use number 1.
