Lewis Hamilton has sought to clarify comments he made after a difficult Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he said he was “not looking forward” to the 2026 season.
Hamilton started the race at the back of the grid and was classified 10th on the road (later promoted to eighth after McLaren disqualifications). After the weekend he described his form as downbeat, saying he felt “terrible” and calling 2025 his “worst season” in his first year with Ferrari, and suggested he was not looking forward to next year.
Asked ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate round, to explain those remarks, Hamilton said drivers usually feel low on energy at the end of a long season and look forward to time with family. He added that his earlier comment came “in the heat of frustration,” since frustration often builds after races that go badly. He said he is actually “excited to see what the team build next year and to continue to build on with them.”
Speaking at a press conference at the Lusail International Circuit, Hamilton declined to dwell on a challenging first season at Ferrari. When asked how he reflected on 2025 he replied: “I don’t. I just look forwards. There’s not really much to say, the results have shown. There are some positives to take from it and you just move forwards. Gelled in the team and there’s amazing passion within the team.”
Hamilton also insisted he has “no regrets” about leaving Mercedes for Ferrari, despite a tough debut season. When pressed on whether he would have made the same move knowing how 2025 would unfold, he called that hypothetical but stood by his decision, saying he expected it would take time to build and grow within a new organisation.
He said he is not worried by team-mate Charles Leclerc’s stronger campaign. Leclerc leads Hamilton by 74 points with two races remaining, has taken all seven of Ferrari’s podiums this year and leads their qualifying head-to-head 17-5. “I am not concerned about that. I have just been focusing on my side during this period,” Hamilton said. He praised Leclerc’s consistency and the continuity around him, noting that Leclerc has been with the team for seven years and benefits from a well-established group. By contrast, Hamilton said he is still integrating with a new set of people and a new environment, and that closing the gap “takes a bit of time.”
The Qatar Grand Prix weekend includes practice, a sprint and the main race as the season heads into its final rounds, with teams already turning some attention to development for next year.