Lewis Hamilton has spoken candidly for the first time about his potential retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 2025 season, admitting that ongoing struggles at Ferrari have led him to question his future in the sport.

The seven-time World Champion, who made a sensational move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2024 season, has had a turbulent start with the Scuderia. Despite an early sprint victory in China, Hamilton has failed to finish higher than fifth in the opening five races of 2025 and ended the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a distant seventh.

Now, amid speculation sparked by former driver Ralf Schumacher, who claimed Hamilton might walk away by saying “I’m not doing this to myself anymore,” Lewis himself has opened up about how this tough period has affected him mentally and emotionally.

“Of course I’ve thought about retirement,” Hamilton admitted in an emotional statement. “When things don’t go right, when the results don’t reflect the work I’m putting in, it’s natural to ask yourself: ‘Is it time?’ I’m 40 now, and I’ve achieved more than I ever dreamed of in this sport. So yes, the thought crosses my mind.”

Hamilton, who is believed to have a contract with Ferrari that runs until the end of the 2026 season, said the decision to keep going depends on how the next months unfold.

“It’s not that I’ve lost the hunger,” he continued. “But you want to be in a place where your efforts are rewarded. You want to feel like you’re contributing to something bigger, and sometimes lately I’ve felt like I’m just stuck, like I’m not moving the needle enough.”

Despite the struggles, Hamilton says he’s still committed to Ferrari’s long-term vision — at least for now.

“This was never going to be easy,” he said. “Joining Ferrari was about passion, about legacy, about pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I knew we’d face challenges, but I didn’t expect it to be this tough from the start. Still, I believe in this team. I believe in the people. And I know what we’re capable of — we’ve seen glimpses of it in China and even in Bahrain.”

When asked if he sees himself walking away at the end of this season, Hamilton didn’t give a firm answer — but he didn’t deny the possibility either.

“I think I’ll know when the time is right,” he said. “I don’t want to be here just to be here. I want to fight for wins, for titles. If I get to a point where I feel like I’m holding the team back, or where I’m not enjoying the journey anymore, then yeah, maybe I’ll step aside. Life is about evolving, and maybe it’s time to evolve into something new.”

Hamilton emphasized that he’s not making any rash decisions — but acknowledged the weight of his current emotions.

“Right now, I’m taking it race by race,” he said. “I’m focusing on getting the most out of this car, on helping the team understand where we need to improve. But I also need to protect my peace. I’ve given everything to this sport for over two decades. There’s a point where you start asking, ‘What more is there for me here?’”

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has publicly backed Hamilton, saying he is “2,000 percent” behind the British driver and rejecting suggestions that Hamilton’s form has dramatically declined. But Vasseur also acknowledged that the team and Hamilton are currently struggling with balance and tyre management — issues they are working to resolve together.

Whether Hamilton decides to stay through 2026 or call it quits earlier remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: he’s thinking deeply about what truly matters to him now.

“Legacy is important,” Hamilton concluded. “But so is happiness. And I’ll never compromise that.”