2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg has urged his former Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton not to give up on Ferrari or retire from the series after his tough first season with the Maranello outfit.
Hamilton has struggled to adapt to Ferrari since joining in 2025, which has led to questions about his future in the championship.
The Briton has made it clear he is eager to put the current regulations behind him and look ahead to 2026.
“I think he has to continue,” Rosberg told Sky Sports F1. “Stopping now is not cool. He only just started this Ferrari project. To give up after only one season doesn’t work.
“He has to continue, give it another shot and hope he feels comfortable in that next-year car. Maybe the car is a good car? This year’s car is not great. His great struggle this year was qualifying pace.
“In the race there was flashes of brilliance that we kept seeing. It’s just qualifying pace and with the car being so different next year, maybe he can find some of that old magic again in qualifying. The hope is still there, definitely.”
Former driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle added: “The trouble is his stats and his reputation is not being enhanced with this. I would have thought he’ll wait to see if Ferrari get it together for 2026.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Fadel Senna – AFP – Getty Images
“He’ll see how he’s going and how they are going and if he’s enjoying. I think if we’re asking that question a year from now and he’s had a difficult season, it would be completely different. I would be very surprised if he just switches it off this winter.”
While Hamilton’s post-race interview following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was fairly doom and gloom, he claimed that the passion of his fans, the support around him and his love for racing are what push him to keep going.
“It’s the love for what you do. It’s the love for racing,” the seven-time champion said. “I’ve got amazing support from people around me, my fans. It’s that constant keeping an eye on the dream. I still have a dream that I hold hope in my heart for, and that’s what I work towards.”
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