Lewis Hamilton... better to burn out than to fade away

[gcdugas]

If the 2026 Ferrari is a dog in testing and the early part of the season, will Lewis quit mid-season? Will he retire before the 26 season even starts?

[Henk_v]

Get bearman in

[hollus]

Driver thread, usual early closure before the mudslinging

[organic]

Driver thread, usual early closure before the mudslinging

Still open I think

[fourmula1]

I mean come on guys who doesn't want a fight between 4 champions plus a few team mates next year?!?!?! Imagine if the cars are close in performance! What a dream.

Alo vs. Ham vs. Charles vs. Max vs. Lando vs. Piastri vs. Russell vs. Kimi

[gcdugas]

Nice sentiment but I don't want to see it if Lewis disgraces himself the way Schumacher did after his Ferrari days were over.

[Chuckjr]

This thread should be closed. It instigates mud slinging nonsense.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Nice sentiment but I don't want to see it if Lewis disgraces himself the way Schumacher did after his Ferrari days were over.

Already doing it, althought Lewis isn't at the same age when Schumacher started in Merc after being away 3 years. Meanwhile Alonso drives well at the age 44.

[TimW]

It did not damage Schumacher's legacy, and it will not damage Hamilton's legacy if he does not win again. He has achieved too much for that. If he does win another title however, that will put him on top of all record books.

So if he enjoys it, and the money is good, why would he stop?

[Jurgen von Diaz]

It did not damage Schumacher's legacy, and it will not damage Hamilton's legacy if he does not win again. He has achieved too much for that. If he does win another title however, that will put him on top of all record books.

So if he enjoys it, and the money is good, why would he stop?

Schumacher lost to one teammate. This would be Hamilton's fourth teammate to beat him. The legacy have already getting damaged.

Schumacher made Benetton and Ferrari. Mercedes made Hamilton.

[DDopey]

I don’t think with a legacy of 7 titles his reputation will be hurt. It’s not a pretty ending, but the legacy remains.

[gcdugas]

But will he bow out? And when? End of this season? After testing the 26 car? After a few races in 26 if the car is a dog? Or... worst case for Lewis... if the car is good and Charles dominates him? Is there any scenario where he beats Charles on merit? If not, or if he thinks not, he could decide to retire over the winter. That last championship was 5 long seasons in the past. I'm not here to trash a legendary racer. I'm honestly asking, as the thread heading suggests... isn't it better to burn out than to fade away?

[gcdugas]

"Schumacher made Benetton and Ferrari. Mercedes made Hamilton."

I see what you are trying to say but Lewis' time at McLaren was ALL Lewis. We still have never seen a rookie season like his in '07. He took Fernando, quite possibly in his best form ever, to the mat.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

"Schumacher made Benetton and Ferrari. Mercedes made Hamilton."

I see what you are trying to say but Lewis' time at McLaren was ALL Lewis. We still have never seen a rookie season like his in '07. He took Fernando, quite possibly in his best form ever, to the mat.

Hamilton's rookie season was the greatest rookie season of all time, hands down. But Hamilton and Alonso came to a ready table, and the success was already gone after 2008. Then switching to Merc that was all about the car with their engine switched to power saving mode that their domination wouldn't be so powerful.

[gcdugas]

https://x.com/i/status/1997313567670825065