Lewis Hamilton makes retirement revelation ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton rubbished reports that he was thinking about retirement |

REUTERS

Fintan Starkey

By Fintan Starkey, 


Published: 18/09/2025

- 17:23

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has made his feelings clear on any thoughts on retirement

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he has no plans to retire from Formula 1 anytime soon despite having struggled this season.

Hamilton has won seven drivers’ championships throughout his career, tying with Michael Schumacher for the most in history, as well as holding the record for most race wins and pole positions, but recent seasons have not worked out for the Briton.


The 40-year-old has not been in title contention since 2021 and has only won two races in the last four seasons.

The Briton now races for Ferrari after making the shock decision to leave Mercedes at this start of the season, but it has not gone to plan in red for Hamilton, who is yet to score a podium with the season creeping closer to its conclusion.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has no plans to leave F1 in the coming years

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REUTERS

Hamilton revealed, leading up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, that he has no plans of ending his time in F1 anytime soon.

He revealed: “I don't plan on stopping anytime soon, and I really appreciate that Fernando is continuing, because it means he's older than me. Yes, I'm just going to keep going until he's 50."

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While Hamilton does not plan on stepping from behind the wheel anytime soon, the Stevenage-born driver admitted that when he does leave the sport, it will be unlikely he will be seen around the paddock.

He continued: “I don't think so. I don't know if I really want to come back. I can't imagine coming to a track and staying in the garage.

“I kind of watch other people do it, maybe in a month it will change, and I can just come and enjoy it, maybe I'll be disconnected and it will be fine.”

The Ferrari driver's comments come just days after former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said Hamilton should “stop” racing and allow younger drivers to take his seat.

The 92-year-old said: “You must be disappointed that what was supposed to be delivered was not delivered.

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Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that Lewis Hamilton needs to retire from Formula 1

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GETTY

“He should stop. The danger [is] that, if he continues for another year or a year and a half and hasn’t gotten better by then, people will forget him and his achievements.

“You’re getting tired, and Formula 1 is no longer the only thing in his life.

“I think he’s lost his focus. Twenty years is a long time, and we now have a lot of young drivers in F1.”

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But Hamilton’s former Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, believes regardless of what happens at the Scuderia, his legacy will always remain intact.

The Austrian revealed: “He is going to retire [and] nobody is going to ever know that he was at Ferrari at the end.

Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff believes no one will remember Lewis Hamilton's time at Ferrari if he continues to struggle

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PA

“Who thinks about the [Michael] Schumacher and Mercedes time? That is not relevant for Schumacher's career.”

Hamilton will be fully focused on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend as he aims to break the podium drought that he has found himself in in 2025 and close the gap to his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc.