Nico Rosberg says Lewis Hamilton finds himself in an “incredibly hard” state of affairs after his troublesome first season at Ferrari however that F1’s massive 2026 guidelines overhaul nonetheless represents a “huge hope” to show the state of affairs round.
Hamilton’s early-anticipated first yr driving for F1’s most-famous staff in the end yielded few highlights on monitor, with the 40-year-old ending a season with no podium for the primary time in his 19-year profession.
Rosberg, Hamilton’s former team-mate and title rival at Mercedes who has recognized the Briton since childhood, described the Ferrari driver’s yr as “painful”.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities Information through the Abu Dhabi GP season finale when Hamilton dropped out within the first stage of qualifying for the third occasion operating, Rosberg stated: “He’s faced all the challenges in the world already. This is not the biggest but this is an incredibly hard one.
“He is caught as a result of he cannot give up. That might be an enormous lack of face.
“It is horrible sadly. He is the best of all-time and it isn’t a worthy finish to the unimaginable legacy and that is painful for him.
“His car hasn’t been good and I wouldn’t want to be in his position.”
Hamilton is on a multi-year contact at Ferrari which no less than runs till the top of 2026.
Rosberg added on Sky Sports activities F1: “I think he has to continue. Stopping now is not cool.
“He solely simply began this Ferrari undertaking. To surrender after just one season would not work.
“He has to continue, give it another shot and hope he feels comfortable in that next-year car.
“Perhaps the automotive is an effective automotive? This yr’s automotive isn’t nice.”
Will F1’s massive ‘reset’ show well timed for Hamilton and Ferrari?
Hamilton described the 2022-2025 technology of ground-effect automobiles as “probably the worst” he had pushed throughout his time in F1.
The four-season period noticed him add simply two race wins and one Grand Prix pole place to his all-time report tallies, whereas he completed behind his team-mate within the Drivers’ Championship in three of the 4 campaigns.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Lewis Hamilton says the 2025 season has demonstrated his resilience and divulges plans to shake up the staff round him forward of the 2026 season
Rosberg says Hamilton now has to hope the subsequent period of laws from 2026 proves extra beneficial for each him and Ferrari, who did not win a race this yr and slipped to fourth within the standings.
“The big thing is the regulations are changing,” stated the 2016 world champion.
“That’s his huge hope. It’s a reset. The car could be a winning car next year.
“He might instantly really feel far more snug within the automotive. He hasn’t felt snug this yr.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Lewis Hamilton says the his help community of household and followers has helped him by a disappointing first season at Ferrari
Rosberg stated that Hamilton additionally wanted to make a step change in his qualifying type.
The Briton has now suffered consecutive giant 19-5 intra-team defeats in qualifying to George Russell at Mercedes and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari prior to now two seasons, respectively.
“His great struggle this year was qualifying pace. In the race, there were flashes of brilliance that we kept seeing,” added Rosberg.
“It’s just qualifying pace and with the car being so different next year, maybe he can find some of that old magic again in qualifying.”
Watch each race of the 2026 F1 season reside on Sky Sports activities, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
