Lewis Hamilton has described his desire to “completely unplug” from the Formula 1 world following a challenging first season with Ferrari, which he characterized as the most difficult of his storied career.
The seven-time world champion concluded the championship in sixth place, his lowest-ever final standing, and failed to secure a single podium finish for the first time since his debut. The season culminated with an eighth-place finish in Abu Dhabi, a race that saw fellow Briton Lando Norris crowned world champion.
Speaking after the finale, Hamilton expressed a clear need for distance. “I can’t wait to get away from all this,” he stated, referencing the relentless media and promotional schedule. “Just disconnecting, not speaking to anyone… I’m looking forward to that. Completely unplug from the matrix.”
His debut year with the Italian team, which began with significant anticipation, proved underwhelming on track. The Ferrari car struggled for pace, often finding itself behind the dominant McLaren and Red Bull teams and locked in a battle for third with Mercedes. Hamilton was out-qualified by teammate Charles Leclerc in the majority of races, with a low point being a 20th-place grid position in Las Vegas.
Despite the frustrations, Hamilton publicly backed the team’s strategic decision to halt development on the current car early in the season to focus entirely on the new regulations for 2026. “I supported it 100%. I still do,” he affirmed, acknowledging the long-term necessity even as it hampered short-term performance.
Tensions surfaced during the year, most notably when Ferrari president John Elkann suggested Hamilton should “focus on driving and talk less” after the driver described his season as a “nightmare.” Hamilton, however, has been proactive behind the scenes, holding meetings with senior team leadership and compiling detailed documents with recommendations for structural and operational improvements.
“An unbearable amount of anger and rage,” was how Hamilton summarized his feelings after a poor qualifying session in Abu Dhabi. As the winter break begins, his immediate focus is on a personal reset, with a longer-term view fixed on helping Ferrari rebuild for a more competitive future.