'Easy discussion' predicted if Lewis Hamilton opts for Ferrari F1 retirement

Former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski has predicted it will be an "easy discussion" between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari if the Briton chooses to retire at the end of 2026.

Hamilton's maiden campaign with Ferrari fell drastically short of expectations, with the seven-time world champion failing to claim a Grand Prix podium and finishing 86 points behind Charles Leclerc.

To compound his difficult start at the Scuderia, Hamilton suffered three consecutive Q1 exits in the final three events of the season.

The campaign ended with many questioning whether the 40-year-old should retire before next season, when new power unit regulations will be introduced.

However, much of Hamilton's move to Ferrari has been focused on 2026 and the new ruleset, which could better suit his driving style than the ground-effect era.

What neither Hamilton nor Ferrari can afford is a repeat of 2025, with Budkowski believing the driver will retire if his struggles continue.

Asked how long he thinks Hamilton will give it in 2026 before deciding whether to retire, Budkowski told the RacingNews365 Podcast: "I think there are two factors. One is the results, and how Ferrari is performing – how competitive the car is.

"And I think he's going to judge his enjoyment as well. He certainly wasn’t enjoying it at the end of this year. I don’t think Lewis is going to drive for the money; he has enough.

"He's excited about the challenge with Ferrari, but if that’s nowhere [near the front] – either because the car isn’t competitive enough, or he isn’t competitive enough himself – I think he’s going to call it a day.

"So whether that’s a third of a season, I think that should be enough for him to have an idea. I don’t think Lewis is going to hang around if he’s at the same level as this year.

"And I don’t think Ferrari will want him to hang around either. So I think it’s going to be a pretty straightforward discussion, to be honest, if it comes to that."