Abu Dhabi GP
Lewis Hamilton to ‘Unplug From the Matrix’ After Worst Season of F1 Career at Ferrari
After a bruising year that marked the lowest point of his Formula 1 career, Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to switch off completely — “unplug from the matrix” — following a season that saw him finish sixth in the championship, fail to score a single podium, and grow increasingly disillusioned with Ferrari’s performance and processes.
The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari with huge fanfare earlier this year, ended his final race in Abu Dhabi in eighth place, having started a dismal P16. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Lando Norris clinched his maiden world title, becoming the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton himself achieved the feat in 2020.
A Season Defined by Frustration and Fatigue
Speaking after the race, Lewis Hamilton did not mince words. “I can’t wait to get away from all this,” he said. “Photoshoots, commitments, every week… I’m looking forward to not talking to anyone. I won’t have my phone. I need to disconnect.”
His tone reflected months of difficulty — a season he himself described as a “nightmare.” Ferrari’s car lagged far behind McLaren and Red Bull throughout the year, with the team admitting they stopped development as early as April to focus on the 2026 regulations. Lewis Hamilton backed the approach, but it left him without the machinery to compete.
He was outqualified by teammate Charles Leclerc in 19 of 24 races and finished outside the points twice — including a career-worst P20 qualifying at the Las Vegas GP.
Internal Strains and a Team Yet to Click
Beyond the car’s limitations, Hamilton appeared unsettled by Ferrari’s internal structure. Reports suggest he was surprised by the team’s decision-making processes, prompting him to compile detailed suggestion documents for Ferrari leadership — CEO Benedetto Vigna, team principal Fred Vasseur and president John Elkann.
Adding to the complexity is his difficult first-year rapport with race engineer Riccardo Adami, replacing long-time Mercedes partner Peter Bonnington. F1 commentator Martin Brundle stated Hamilton “terribly misses” that partnership, noting that engineer-driver chemistry is crucial for extracting performance.
Despite publicly downplaying any tensions, Lewis Hamilton has hinted at personnel changes, saying he will review “how people are utilised” and “whether some need to move into different positions” during the winter break.
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Looking Toward 2026 — Or Toward the Exit?
Lewis Hamilton insists he still believes in Ferrari’s potential, saying the team has the “right people” but needs optimisation. Still, at 40 years old, questions loom large over how long he intends to continue in F1.
For now, he wants nothing more than silence, rest and reflection. “We just need to analyse everything,” he said. “I know the areas we need to improve. It’s all written down. Now it’s about sitting with the team.”
His second Ferrari season — and possibly his final on the grid — will determine whether this year was merely a brutal transition or the beginning of the end.
