Hamilton to Disconnect Fully After Difficult Ferrari Season

Lewis Hamilton says he will completely disconnect from everyone during Formula 1’s winter break after experiencing a very difficult first season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion joined the Italian team this year after leaving Mercedes, creating huge excitement among fans and experts. Many expected the partnership to be strong, especially because Ferrari finished second in the constructors’ standings last season. There was hope that Hamilton could fight for an eighth title, but the year turned out very different from expectations.

Hamilton ended up having one of the toughest seasons of his career. For the first time ever, he did not appear on the podium at any Grand Prix. His struggles continued in the last races as he suffered three early qualifying exits in a row, adding to his frustration. Before the final race in Abu Dhabi, he said he felt an “unbearable amount of anger” after qualifying only 16th. Although he managed to finish eighth on race day, he said he now wants a complete mental break.

Hamilton explained that during the winter he does not plan to talk to anyone, and he will not carry his phone at all. He said he wants to “unplug from the matrix” and stay away from all communication. The British driver added that while he normally keeps his phone with him, this time he will “throw it in the bin” to ensure he gets full rest. The season has left him feeling mentally exhausted, and he believes a full break is necessary.

His teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured seven podiums and finished fifth overall, also expressed disappointment. Ferrari did not win any race this year, and Leclerc said that next season, with new Formula 1 rules coming into effect, will be a “now or never” moment for the team. Ferrari has not won a Drivers’ Championship since 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen took the title. This season, the team finished fourth overall, which was below their expectations.

Team principal Fred Vasseur responded calmly to both drivers’ frustrations, saying that every team goes through similar challenges. He explained that whether a team finishes first or tenth, the goal is always the same — to learn and improve. Ferrari will now prepare for next season with hopes of returning to strong form. The focus remains on driver performance, team morale, Ferrari strategy, season results, and F1 expectations.