F1 news: What’s next for Lewis Hamilton after a difficult first season at Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton’s first year in red was supposed to be the beginning of his long-awaited resurgence, but it instead became one of the toughest campaigns of his career.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo breaks down where the seven-time champion goes from here after a season defined by disappointment, doubt, and determination.

A season of turmoil for the seven-time champion

Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited move to Ferrari was expected to mark the beginning of a new chapter filled with promise.

The combination of the sport’s most successful driver and its most iconic team generated global excitement.

Ferrari had ended the previous year close to the front, and Hamilton believed the switch would finally deliver the eighth world title that eluded him in the dramatic conclusion to 2021.

The optimism did not last. Ferrari’s car lacked competitiveness from the opening round.

Hamilton struggled to adapt to its unpredictable nature, and the early highlight of a sprint victory in China was overshadowed the next day when both cars were disqualified.

His exclusion for excessive skid wear revealed a deeper flaw. Ferrari regularly had to run the car lower than ideal to find pace, which carried the risk of wearing out the skid plates. Raising the car slowed it dramatically.

This delicate compromise defined much of the season.

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Mounting pressure within the Ferrari garage

Races in Spain and Hungary showcased how fragile Ferrari’s setup had become. Early speed often faded as the team tried to protect the car late in events.

In Hungary, Charles Leclerc showed winning form before dropping back in the final stint, while Hamilton endured a tough weekend that left him openly questioning himself and even suggesting the team might need another driver.

The frustrations only grew in the second half of the year.

Hamilton’s post-session comments were often emotional, and team principal Frederic Vasseur repeatedly reminded the media that qualifying margins were incredibly tight.

A small error could mean tumbling from the top six to the midfield.

Even so, the comparison with Leclerc proved difficult to ignore. The Monegasque driver consistently delivered stronger results, finishing with a clear qualifying advantage and a more competitive season overall.

Ferrari’s winless campaign increased external pressure.

After Hamilton described his year as a nightmare, Ferrari chairman John Elkann urged the drivers to talk less and focus more on performing.

The comments did little to settle Hamilton’s mood.

Three straight exits in the first qualifying session late in the year deepened the sense that this season would be one to forget.

A desire to switch off completely

By season’s end, Hamilton made it clear he needed a break. He spoke about disconnecting fully during the winter, leaving his phone behind and retreating into silence.

A year without a single Grand Prix podium was a shock to a driver known for producing extraordinary moments even in difficult seasons.

This year was different. Apart from the sprint win in China, Hamilton rarely displayed the spectacular bursts of pace or creative race craft that had defined his best performances.

He admitted that he had not enjoyed the current era of F1 machinery, which he felt clashed with his natural driving instincts.

With sweeping new rules arriving next season, teams expect even greater demands on driver adaptation.

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A debate over age, style, and circumstance

Fans and pundits have spent months debating why Hamilton struggled so much.

Some pointed to Ferrari’s inconsistent car. Others suggested the current generation of vehicles does not suit his style. There are also those who believe age is beginning to play a role.

Comparisons with Michael Schumacher’s challenging comeback have surfaced, even as Fernando Alonso shows that strong performances in one’s forties are still possible.

Each driver ages differently, and each team dynamic presents its own set of complications.

Hamilton has rejected any suggestion that he should retire.

After finishing far behind Leclerc and enduring his first season without a podium, questions about his future resurfaced.

His response was blunt. He said critics had not achieved what he has, so he did not feel the need to address them.

The dream that keeps him in Formula 1

Despite the hardships, Hamilton remains committed to Ferrari.

He speaks often about his love for racing and the support he receives from those around him.

He still carries one major ambition. He wants to win with Ferrari. That goal guided his decision to join the team, and he continues to believe it is possible.

Ferrari began shifting resources toward the 2026 regulations early in the year, a move that limited their progress in 2025.

Hamilton supported the decision, arguing that the team could not afford to fall behind in preparing for the coming era. However, the choice made it harder to maintain competitive pace this season.

Hamilton has already identified the areas where he believes Ferrari must improve. He has said he intends to sit with the engineers during the winter to review everything in detail.

Team principal Vasseur has also acknowledged that operational execution needs to become sharper.

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The road ahead for Hamilton and Ferrari

A new set of regulations will redefine the sport next season, offering teams a rare opportunity to reset the competitive order.

Ferrari hope that this shift brings them closer to the front. Hamilton believes that next year’s cars will feel more natural to him and may allow him to rediscover the instincts that made him one of the sport’s greatest drivers.

The coming season will determine whether this partnership can finally deliver success or whether Hamilton’s dream remains out of reach.

Whatever the outcome, the next chapter in his Ferrari journey promises to be one of the most-watched stories in F1.

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