Lewis Hamilton has addressed his Formula 1 future while reflecting on the intense pressure he has experienced as a Ferrari driver this season. The seven-time world champion’s first year with Ferrari has fallen short of expectations, as he has yet to secure a podium finish with seven races still remaining in the campaign.
The 40-year-old driver has occasionally struggled under Ferrari’s demanding environment, including moments where he publicly questioned his own position after the Hungarian Grand Prix and showed frustration during communications with race engineer Riccardo Adami. Despite these challenges, Hamilton has adopted a renewed outlook since the summer break, aiming to enjoy his role at Ferrari and preparing for the 2026 season ahead.
Hamilton Acknowledges Struggles and Shifts Focus to Enjoyment
Following the mid-season pause, Hamilton openly discussed how the pressure affected his initial months with Ferrari. He described the experience as overwhelming due to numerous factors, including adapting to a new, large team and managing various commitments and partnerships.
There’s been so much pressure in this first half of the season that it’s not been the most enjoyable, so I think it’s just remembering that we love what we do, we’re all in this together, and I’m trying to have some fun,
Hamilton stated during a media session after the break.
He expanded on the challenges, saying,
It’s also the biggest brand in our sport as well, so it’s a combination of all those different things. It’s been a lot.
This combination of pressures, including extensive promotional work and team integration, has made the season demanding beyond just on-track performance.
Reconnecting with Passion as Key to Moving Forward
Hamilton has recently decreased self-criticism in public comments, redirecting his energy toward recovering his passion for racing rather than focusing solely on results. He emphasized the importance of enjoying one’s work, which originally attracted him to motorsport.
Probably the most important part [having fun], because that’s the reason I got into the sport. It was fun for me.
Hamilton explained.
He stressed the universal role enjoyment plays in any career, cautioning that external distractions can obscure this core motivation. After joining Ferrari — a team he always aspired to race for — Hamilton acknowledged that public pressure and noise had clouded his experience:
Now it’s about kind of moving those things aside and just getting back to focusing on the pure love of what we do.
Performance and Future Outlook Amid Ongoing Challenges
Despite not yet reversing his fortunes in recent races, Hamilton’s shift toward a more positive mindset highlights his desire to reclaim the enthusiasm that sparked his long and successful career. This approach aims to support both his current performance at Ferrari and his longer-term plans in Formula 1 moving toward 2026.
As one of the sport’s most decorated drivers, Hamilton’s ability to adapt to Ferrari’s environment and maintain his focus will be closely watched, especially given the team’s stature within F1 and the expectations that come with it.
