Lewis Hamilton has issued a statement regarding his F1 future.
Lewis Hamilton has made it crystal clear that Formula 1 retirement is not on his radar, after claiming “a lot of people are trying to retire” him.
Hamilton’s defiant response comes after Ralf Schumacher, the six-time grand prix winner turned pundit, told Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to retire at the end of the season.
Lewis Hamilton confirms Ferrari future beyond F1 2026
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After a challenging first season at Ferrari for Hamilton, the seven-time world champion has made an encouraging start to F1 2026.
Hamilton scored his first Ferrari podium at the Chinese Grand Prix and has generally cut a more upbeat figure in 2026.
That, however, did not stop Schumacher from telling Hamilton, the sport’s most successful driver, that “it’s time” to retire.
Schumacher extended that statement to also cover Alonso, arguing that the pair of F1 veterans had their time in the sun, and needed to step aside for the next generation to take over.
Hamilton’s former McLaren teammate Jenson Button, meanwhile, said that Hamilton has shown in F1 2026 that “he has still got the speed.”
13-time grand prix winner David Coulthard has warned Ferrari that it cannot miss the moment to promote Oliver Bearman, the Ferrari-backed driver who continues to impress with Haas.
“There’s a lot of people that are trying to retire me,” Hamilton stated ahead of the Canadian GP.
It is safe to say that Schumacher’s advice will not be followed.
“That’s not even on my thoughts,” Hamilton declared.
“I’m already thinking of what will be next and planning for like the next five years, but I still plan to be here for some time.”
Hamilton signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari, though the longevity of his contract was unclear.
Hamilton has now confirmed that his Ferrari contract extends beyond the current season.
“I’m still in contract, so everything’s 100 per cent clear to me,” he said.
Hamilton stressed that he is “still focused” and “motivated”.
“I still love what I do with all my heart, and I’m going to be here for quite some time, so get used to it,” he defiantly added.
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Alongside his record-equalling seven titles, Hamilton holds outright records such as most wins (105) and most pole positions (104).
But, it is not all about the records for Hamilton, as he prepares to race on.
“I’ve never really thought about how you would define success. I think success can be perceived in lots of different ways,” he said.
“I think waking up every day and trying again, and giving it a try, always trying to be better than your previous self, evolving into the person that you feel comfortable in, who you want to be, overcoming adversity, proving people wrong that try to hold you back or bring you down, the way you show up.
“I think of course from the outside world results are what people call success, but I think internally for me it’s just progress. If you’re progressing, you’re succeeding.
“I don’t really put a lot of pressure on… That’s why I’ve always said I’m really grateful for the records and those sorts of things, but they’re not things I ever think of. The things I think of is every day how I tune my brain, because ultimately I’m really focused on… You can tune yourself to believe what you want. And I’m always trying to work on my inner self to programme myself to be moving forward, not looking at what’s behind me.
“It’s a part of the journey but not necessarily the most important thing. The important thing is how you’re getting up, it’s how you’re pushing forward, it’s how you’re trying to evolve, and just looking forward, always looking forward, never looking back.”
Hamilton sits fifth in the Drivers’ Championship standings ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, level on 51 points with reigning world champion McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc is two positions and eight points up the road.
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