Lewis Hamilton is facing perhaps the most challenging period of his Formula 1 career, as his switch to Ferrari this season has failed to deliver the success he anticipated. The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari with hopes of reviving the dominance once enjoyed by Michael Schumacher, now finds himself in a sharp Lewis Hamilton retirement debate following a disappointing first half of the season. Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has publicly suggested that Hamilton might need to contemplate retirement if his current struggles continue.

Hamilton’s Difficult Start at Ferrari and Growing Frustration

At 40 years old, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was meant to reignite his career. However, after several races, he has yet to compete seriously for victories or even frequent podium finishes. His best result came from winning the Sprint race in China, but beyond that, Hamilton has struggled to establish himself as a frontrunner. This has led to visible frustration for the British driver, who has publicly expressed a loss of faith in his own abilities and urged Ferrari to consider replacing him if necessary.

Guenther Steiner Highlights the Impact of Age and Loss of Joy

Guenther Steiner, the Italian-American former boss of Haas F1, pointed to age as a natural limiting factor in Hamilton’s performance, noting that drivers typically don’t improve as they get older. Still, Steiner believes Hamilton is capable of maintaining a competitive level for a few more years. The deeper concern, however, lies in the loss of motivation and enjoyment, with Steiner emphasizing that without passion for racing, continuing is no longer worthwhile.

Age always plays a role… of course, you don’t get faster with age. But he can absolutely drive at a good level for a few more years.
—Guenther Steiner, Former Haas F1 Team Principal

But if you don’t have the joy anymore, if you realize you’re just fighting, then it’s no use. Then it’s better to say: I tried, it didn’t work and I’ll stop.
—Guenther Steiner, Former Haas F1 Team Principal

The Decline of Hamilton’s Confidence at Ferrari

Since losing the 2021 title at Abu Dhabi, Hamilton has faced significant difficulties regaining his prior form, particularly as Mercedes struggled with the new generation of ground-effect cars. His move to Ferrari was widely seen as a chance to reverse this downward trend, but the expected revival has not materialized. Steiner believes the root of the problem lies in Hamilton losing confidence in his own driving abilities, which seriously hampers any athlete’s capacity to perform at their best.

He has lost self-confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself anymore, you can’t perform. In the beginning, you could explain it with the settling-in… but why is it still not going well?
—Guenther Steiner, Former Haas F1 Team Principal

This loss of self-belief is increasingly evident in Hamilton’s recent performances and comments, which have added to criticism from fans and experts alike. With no signs of improvement halfway through the season, concerns grow that Hamilton may no longer be able to compete at the highest level.

What This Means for Hamilton’s Future

The mounting pressure on Hamilton extends beyond his results on the track. Publicly questioning his own usefulness and urging Ferrari to replace him signals a crisis of confidence rarely seen from the veteran driver. Steiner’s blunt advice suggests that if Hamilton no longer finds joy in racing, retirement could be the best option to preserve his legacy rather than continuing to struggle.

Whether Hamilton will heed this advice remains uncertain, but the intense scrutiny and challenges at Ferrari raise critical questions about how much longer the seven-time world champion can maintain his status among the sport’s elites. The ongoing Lewis Hamilton retirement debate is likely to intensify as the season progresses without a clear turnaround.

Ultimately, Hamilton’s situation underscores how even the greatest athletes face moments of doubt and decline, especially as they confront both physical demands and psychological pressures in a fiercely competitive environment like Formula 1. The coming months will be key in determining whether Hamilton can reignite his passion and performance or if his career will take a new direction.