Lewis Hamilton has moved to quell immediate retirement fears, clarifying his “downhearted comments” made after a frustrating debut season with Ferrari.
The seven-time World Champion sparked concern after the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix when he said he wasn’t looking forward to the 2026 season.
Ahead of the F1 Qatar GP, Hamilton explained his frustration stemmed from the end of a difficult year with Ferrari, which saw him qualify last in Vegas due to miscommunication.
“That’s just in the heat of frustration,” Hamilton told reporters. “Often there’s a lot of frustration at the end of races particularly when they haven’t gone well.”
Despite an underwhelming season with an average result of 6.68, Hamilton remains committed to the team, emphasizing his focus on the future.
“I don’t regret the decision I made joining the team,” he insisted. “I’m excited to see what the team build next year and to continue to build on with them… I’m hoping we implement and make those changes along with hopefully a better package next year.”
