Lewis Hamilton has issued a heartfelt message to his fans on his 41st birthday, calling time for change and vowing to start anew ahead of the 2026 F1 season. The seven-time world champion described last year as "the worst season ever" after finishing sixth in the F1 Drivers' Championship.
Hamilton's decision comes following a disappointing first campaign with Ferrari, where he failed to secure a podium finish for the first time in his career. However, he expressed gratitude for the support of his family and fans during a challenging 2025.
"I'm incredibly grateful for this break," Hamilton wrote on Instagram. "Time to disconnect, recharge and find a bit of inner peace." He went on to describe the importance of disconnecting from the pressures of racing and reconnecting with loved ones.
As he embarks on his second season with Ferrari, Hamilton pledged to leave behind unwanted patterns and work on growth, quoting Chinese New Year's tradition by saying they are "entering the Year of the Horse". The message was seen as a call for change and renewal, emphasizing the need to let go of things that no longer serve us.
Hamilton concluded his post by expressing his appreciation for the support of fans and friends, who have been instrumental in helping him through a tough year. He reassured them that they are never alone and encouraged them to stay focused on living life to the fullest.
With the 2026 F1 season just around the corner, Hamilton's message serves as a timely reminder that change is not always easy, but it can be transformative. As he looks to leave behind the disappointments of last year and forge a new path, his fans can rest assured that they will have their champion back on track soon enough.
Hamilton's decision comes following a disappointing first campaign with Ferrari, where he failed to secure a podium finish for the first time in his career. However, he expressed gratitude for the support of his family and fans during a challenging 2025.
"I'm incredibly grateful for this break," Hamilton wrote on Instagram. "Time to disconnect, recharge and find a bit of inner peace." He went on to describe the importance of disconnecting from the pressures of racing and reconnecting with loved ones.
As he embarks on his second season with Ferrari, Hamilton pledged to leave behind unwanted patterns and work on growth, quoting Chinese New Year's tradition by saying they are "entering the Year of the Horse". The message was seen as a call for change and renewal, emphasizing the need to let go of things that no longer serve us.
Hamilton concluded his post by expressing his appreciation for the support of fans and friends, who have been instrumental in helping him through a tough year. He reassured them that they are never alone and encouraged them to stay focused on living life to the fullest.
With the 2026 F1 season just around the corner, Hamilton's message serves as a timely reminder that change is not always easy, but it can be transformative. As he looks to leave behind the disappointments of last year and forge a new path, his fans can rest assured that they will have their champion back on track soon enough.
. Lewis Hamilton's all out of nowhere saying it's time for change? I mean, he just had a rough season with Ferrari and now he's talking about "entering the Year of the Horse" and leaving behind patterns that no longer serve him? It sounds like someone's trying to spin a narrative here 
... or maybe he's finally starting to listen to his own fans? Either way, I'm keeping an eye on this one 
. That Instagram post of his seemed a bit too scripted for my taste, if you ask me 
. What's really going on behind the scenes at Ferrari? 
lewis has been through so much pressure in f1 and its amazing how he's being honest about taking a break to recharge 
everyone needs some me time you know? 
his family and fans have always been there for him and it sounds like he's grateful for that 
also im loving the chinese new year vibe 
gotta let go of the past and focus on growth, thats the spirit! 
. i think its awesome that hes taking the time to reflect on his season and work on personal growth, thats what we need more of in life. lets support him in this new chapter and wish him all the best for 2026 
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i feel like he's been through so much & it's amazing how honest he is about struggling last season 
i mean, who hasn't had a season that's gone from good to worse right? 
but seriously, i love that he's taking this time to focus on himself & his loved ones 
it's all about self-care & prioritizing what really matters in life you know? 
can't wait to see him back on the track, throwing those pit stops & leaving all the haters in the dust 
... i'm sure it was really tough for him last season, but he's taking the time to recharge and focus on himself - that takes so much courage 
. his fans are lucky to have someone who is willing to be vulnerable and open about their struggles. and omg entering the year of the horse 
is like, such a beautiful metaphor for growth and change! i'm sure he's gonna come back even stronger in 2026 
lewis hamilton's message is so relatable lol he literally just summed up the entire racing season in 1 sentence "the worst season ever" i feel like he's speaking directly to my soul, i had a crap year last year too, but at least he's owning it and making changes for 2026 
can't wait to see him get back on track and crush it 
he's gotta come back stronger than ever for 2026! I know he's been thru a tough time with Ferrari 
but I believe in him more than anything 
he's a true champion and we all know it 
that heartfelt message tho? 
he's so selfless and grateful for our support fam 
love how he's talking about finding inner peace too 
let's do this LH! 
. It's clear that 2025 was a tough year for him, but he's taking the time to reflect and recharge, which is super admirable 
. It's great that he's acknowledging the importance of self-care and not being afraid to step away from the pressures of racing. I'm excited to see how this newfound mindset will impact his performance in 2026 
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. I'm all for it! And if Lewis can use his platform to spread that message of self-care and growth, then more power to him 
. It's great that he's taking the time to focus on himself and find inner peace – we all need that sometimes. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to leave behind some unwanted patterns from last year? 
it's all about finding inner peace and letting go of the negativity right? i feel like we all need a bit of that from time to time... he's got an amazing team behind him and we know he'll come back stronger than ever 
. i love how he's acknowledging the struggles and taking responsibility for his growth. it's not always easy to admit when we need to make a change, but hamilton is showing us that even the biggest champions can learn from their mistakes.
. The whole "calling time for change" vibe is just a marketing ploy to get us fans hyped for next season 
. And don't even get me started on the Instagram post, it's so... cheesy 
. Can't he just keep it real for once? I mean, if he's really trying to leave behind unwanted patterns and all that jazz, why can't we see some actual substance behind his words?