Rosberg Urges Hamilton to Stick With Ferrari Project After Tough Debut Season

Nico Rosberg has publicly urged Lewis Hamilton not to abandon his Ferrari project or consider retirement following a challenging first season with the Scuderia in 2025. The 2016 world champion insists Hamilton must persist through the adaptation phase, arguing that walking away after just one year would undermine both his legacy and Ferrari's long-term ambitions.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's current struggle represents a rare career vulnerability for a driver synonymous with dominance, while Ferrari faces mounting pressure to justify its high-stakes recruitment of the seven-time champion. How this partnership evolves will significantly impact F1's competitive landscape, particularly as both parties pin hopes on the transformative 2026 regulations.

The details:

• Rosberg explicitly warned against premature exit during his Sky Sports F1 appearance: "Stopping now is not cool. He only just started this Ferrari project. To give up after only one season doesn't work."
• The German highlighted Hamilton's qualifying struggles as the primary issue with this year's SF-25, while noting consistent flashes of race-day brilliance that suggest underlying compatibility issues rather than driver decline.
• Car dynamics: Rosberg emphasized the anticipated 2026 car's potential to reset the competitive order, stating: "This year's car is not great... with the car being so different next year, maybe he can find some of that old magic again in qualifying."
• Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle added perspective on Hamilton's legacy concerns: "His stats and reputation are not being enhanced with this. I would have thought he'll wait to see if Ferrari get it together for 2026."
• Fan factor: Hamilton himself cited fan support as critical motivation during Abu Dhabi reflections, stating: "It's the love for racing... my fans. It's that constant keeping an eye on the dream."

What's next:

The 2026 season becomes Hamilton's de facto deadline, with both driver and team facing make-or-break pressure. Ferrari's technical leadership must deliver a package that addresses the current car's qualifying deficiencies while leveraging Hamilton's racecraft strengths.

• Internal dynamics at Maranello will intensify as the 2026 power unit development reaches critical stages, with team principal Frédéric Vasseur under scrutiny to prove Hamilton's recruitment wasn't a misstep.
• Should the SF-26 fail to resolve Hamilton's qualifying struggles, the Briton faces an unprecedented career crossroads: extend his stay at Ferrari for a third season or pursue alternatives including potential retirement.
• The situation creates ripple effects across the grid, with teams like Mercedes monitoring Hamilton's status while preparing for possible 2027 driver market complications.