Nico Rosberg says Hamilton is 'stuck' in 'horrible' Ferrari situation, cannot retire

Nico Rosberg believes Lewis Hamilton is in a "horrible situation" at Ferrari, causing him "suffering," but argues the seven-time champion cannot retire now as it would be a "loss of face." The former rival says Hamilton is "really stuck" between an untenable present and a future where time is not on his side, with no easy exit from his Scuderia project.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was meant to be a glorious final chapter, but a torrid first season has created a profound dilemma. Rosberg's analysis underscores the immense pressure on a legendary driver whose career risks ending not with a title challenge but in frustration. The situation impacts not just Hamilton's legacy but also Ferrari's prestige and the dynamics of the entire driver market.

The details:

• Rosberg, Hamilton's former Mercedes teammate and 2016 champion, described the atmosphere as unprecedented, noting Hamilton is now giving detailed "notes" for team improvement—a tactic he rarely used during their more successful shared years.
• Hamilton's first Ferrari season was historically poor: he failed to score a single podium for the first time in his 18-year career, often appearing visibly frustrated or crestfallen in media sessions.
• The core of Rosberg's argument is that Hamilton has no good options. Retiring after just one year of a high-profile "project" would be seen as quitting when things got difficult, damaging his and Ferrari's reputation.
• Conversely, continuing is also fraught. At 40, time is not on his side for a multi-year rebuild, and with Ferrari's competitiveness for 2026 still a major question, the path forward offers no guarantee of success.

The big picture:

Hamilton's predicament highlights the risks of a late-career team switch in Formula 1. His initial three-year contract with Ferrari concludes at the end of 2026, coinciding with the new technical regulations. The prevailing expectation in the paddock is that if Ferrari cannot show convincing progress at the start of that new era, it may force Hamilton's hand toward retirement, ending a two-decade career on a potentially sour note.

Between the lines:

Rosberg's commentary, while blunt, points to a deeper issue of legacy management. For an athlete of Hamilton's stature, how the career concludes is almost as important as the victories themselves. Being "stuck" in an uncompetitive car threatens to overshadow his historic achievements. The situation also puts immense pressure on Ferrari management to deliver a competitive car for 2026, not just for their own ambitions but to provide a worthy stage for one of the sport's greatest drivers to exit.