Villeneuve silences Hamilton retirement doubters as Ferrari resurgence speaks for itself

Jacques Villeneuve has come out firmly in defence of Lewis Hamilton’s decision to continue racing, insisting that Hamilton’s resurgence at Ferrari in 2026 — including his first grand prix victory with the Maranello team — vindicates the 41-year-old against those who urged him to retire.

Hamilton departed Mercedes at the start of 2025 after a difficult final chapter at a team where he had claimed six of his seven world championships. A challenging debut season adapting to Ferrari was followed by calls from parts of the paddock and beyond suggesting the Briton should have walked away while his legacy was intact. His 2026 form has rendered much of that criticism moot.

“I was always of the opposite thought,” Villeneuve said. “Why retire? I don’t understand this concept of, ‘Oh, it’s too late. He has to retire. Poor him.’ If the fire is still there, why retire?”

The 1997 world champion argued that the retirement narrative said more about fans than it did about Hamilton. “Just because people want to remember a champion at his peak, and suddenly there’s a bad one or two seasons, and it hurts them. Not the driver, not the sportsman himself. It hurts them as a fan, and they don’t want to see their hero failing. So, in their mind, ‘Oh, he should retire so we can keep him at his top.’ But they’re not the sportsman. They don’t understand what’s going on.”

Villeneuve also pointed to the practical reality of Hamilton’s situation. “So you get there, you get a chance to drive with the biggest team, to rebuild it. And you’re still making what £40-60 million a year. Why should you retire? He wasn’t running last. He wasn’t qualifying last. He was still out there giving his best.”

The Canadian was unequivocal in his conclusion. “He’s proven that all these naysayers were wrong. If you have the fire, the talent doesn’t suddenly disappear. It’s all about whether you’re willing to make the sacrifices. Are you willing to put the time and effort in?”

Hamilton’s first win as a Ferrari driver in 2026 has provided the most emphatic answer yet to those who questioned whether his best days were behind him.