Lewis Hamilton ‘doesn’t have a mindset into next year’ after difficult first season with Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton admits that he “doesn’t have a mindset into next year at the moment” as he recovered to claim points in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and bring a difficult maiden season with Ferrari to a close.

The seven-time World Champion climbed from a starting position of P16 to finish P8 at the Yas Marina Circuit in last Sunday’s 58-lap race, having started on the soft tyre and implemented a two-stop strategy.

The Briton faced a difficult weekend, having suffered a crash in Free Practice 3 at Turn 9, while he was then eliminated in Q1 for the third consecutive race.

“I was enjoying the battle trying to come back up,” said Hamilton when asked about his charge through the field.

“A lot of work to come from where I was and very tough with how close all the cars are to get back in the points but the team did a great job. We pulled through with strategy and glad to have got some points.”

The 2025 campaign has generally been a trying one for Hamilton and Ferrari, with much expected of the new partnership at the start of the season.

Having taken pole position and victory in the China Sprint back in March, Hamilton failed to reach the rostrum across 24 Grands Prix, marking the first time since he joined Formula 1 in 2007 that he hasn’t taken a podium in a season.

Hamilton finished P6 in the Drivers’ Championship, 86 points behind team mate Charles Leclerc, who despite claiming seven podiums failed to win a race this term.

It left Ferrari P4 in the Teams’ Championship ahead of a huge regulation overhaul next season, and with Hamilton insisting that changes needed to be made within the team.

Despite the chance of better prospects in 2026, Hamilton said recovery and resetting were the most important aspects he would focus on heading into the winter break.

“I don’t have a mindset into next year at the moment. I’m not thinking about next year, 2026 is not on my radar at the moment,” he said.

“Right now, I’m just thinking about Christmas, time with family and being present and just recovering.”