Lewis Hamilton will RETIRE - Schumacher makes shocking admission

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, speaking on Sky Deutschland's podcast "Backstaged Boxengasse," stated he could envision Lewis Hamilton retiring at the end of the current season.

At the start of the year, the most successful driver in F1 history joined Ferrari hoping to rediscover the form that brought him so much success with Mercedes.

However, this hasn't materialized, and Hamilton appeared dejected in Hungary last week.

Following qualifying at the Hungaroring, the British driver stated he felt "useless" and that Ferrari should replace him.

This fueled speculation that the seven-time champion might retire soon, and Schumacher believes it's a real possibility by season's end.

At some point, you realize you've tried everything with the car and admit your teammate is simply better. When you can't find a solution, you start doubting yourself. You start questioning why you continue if you're not enjoying it and are neglecting your personal life. Okay, Lewis doesn't have a family in that sense, but he has friends and a close circle. This is how the process begins.

"Lewis is incredibly wealthy. He could decide to pursue other ventures, like films, for example. He was involved in the new F1 movie. He'll be wondering why he's putting himself through this. This thought process isn't far-fetched when you're approaching 40. You shouldn't spend your life driving in circles.

"So, based on his comments, I can imagine him retiring. Just three months ago, I faced criticism for suggesting Lewis should retire. Now he's starting to echo those sentiments himself. Something has shifted.

"If he can turn things around, this will become old news. Sometimes it only takes one or two moments to change everything and reignite the joy. It's like in football when you score after a long drought.

"For drivers, it's about achieving that perfect lap – getting that result and reaching the podium when no one believed you could. When that happens, it's great. But if not, I wouldn't rule out him leaving at the end of the year," Schumacher concluded.

Lewis Hamilton's debut season with Ferrari has been nothing short of disappointing.

The seven-time world champion has yet to secure a podium finish in 14 races, a stark contrast to his teammate Charles Leclerc, who has already managed five. 

Hamilton's frustration seems to have reached a peak during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he failed to advance past Q2, describing his performance as "useless" and suggesting that Ferrari "probably need to change driver." 

This self-critical assessment came on a weekend when Leclerc went on to take pole position, highlighting the disparity in their performances. 

The struggles have led to speculation about his future and whether he might consider an early retirement from his multi-year contract with the Italian team. 

It's a difficult period for the racing legend, who is still adapting to a car with vastly different characteristics from his previous Mercedes.