Hamilton: Right now, I don't have a mentality focused on next year.

      Lewis Hamilton is entering the winter break amid intensified speculation about an early departure from Ferrari, and his recent remarks in Abu Dhabi have done little to quell the rumors. The seven-time world champion has just finished one of the most challenging seasons of his career, ending his debut year with Ferrari without any podium finishes—a fate no rookie at Maranello has faced in 44 years. Hamilton now indicates that he is completely shutting down for the winter.

      "I don’t have any thoughts about next year right now," he told Sky Italia. "I just want to disconnect and avoid speaking to anyone. Nobody will be able to contact me this winter; I won't have my phone with me. I’m really looking forward to that—completely unplugging from the Matrix." He acknowledged that this is a new, extreme approach for him: "I don’t think I’ve ever left my phone behind for a winter before, but I will this time."

      These statements have sparked fresh speculation. Ralf Schumacher, who has frequently suggested that Ferrari consider replacing Hamilton with Oliver Bearman for 2026, described the interview as "strange" and "definitely leaves things open." Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former teammate, also feels that the 40-year-old is grappling with internal conflicts.

      "He’s in a tough spot," Rosberg commented. "I’m sure he would like to walk away, but he can’t—it would be a significant loss of face. He only just joined Ferrari and started this major project. To leave now? He has no choice but to give it another go. But things could worsen; he’s running out of time—he’ll be 41 soon."

      Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc is urging Ferrari supporters to temper their expectations for 2026, suggesting that some of the turmoil surrounding the team this year was a result of the excitement around Hamilton joining them. "It’s true that we created too many expectations this season," Leclerc stated. "When a figure like Lewis comes to a team like Ferrari, it generates a lot of speculation that can be hard to manage. Everything happening around us was beyond our control—the only thing we can manage is unity, hard work, and staying motivated."

      Leclerc declared that he has no expectations for 2026. "It will be a blank slate," he said. "We don’t know where we’re starting from, nor the situation of the others."

      Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that his decision to cease SF-25 development early in favor of focusing on 2026 caused psychological challenges internally. "What I probably underestimated is the psychological impact it had on everyone," he remarked. However, he remains optimistic about the upcoming season: "The key will be development. We’re heading back to a Formula 1 where performance will vary."

      Pedro de la Rosa, who collaborated with Hamilton at McLaren, believes that 2026 will be pivotal for the Briton’s future. "I think he’s waiting to drive a completely different car," he told DAZN. "This is Hamilton’s last opportunity, but also for Ferrari. F1 needs Ferrari. With Hamilton and Leclerc, they have two excellent drivers—they now need to provide them with the right car."

      Leclerc, although set to participate in the post-season Abu Dhabi test, expressed a desire to skip it. "The disappointment from a season like this is impacting me," he said. "I need a break—to disconnect and then refocus for next year."