Lewis Hamilton has been advised to \u201cbe honest\u201d with himself over the point where things are not as easy as \u201cthey once were\u201d, signalling the moment to walk away from Formula 1.<\/p>\n
That advice comes from Johnny Herbert, a three-time grand prix winner. Herbert does not doubt the motivation of Hamilton<\/a> \u2013 Formula 1\u2019s most successful driver \u2013 but feels that Hamilton, now aged 41, should not delay in retiring if and when he feels he has lost a step.<\/p>\n Johnny Herbert urges Lewis Hamilton to be honest on retirement<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Hamilton has established himself as a true icon of Formula 1. He and Michael Schumacher are the sport\u2019s only seven-time world champions, while Hamilton boasts a record 105 grand prix wins among his many accolades.<\/p>\n During the Stay On Track podcast, Herbert and 1996 world champion Damon Hill were asked what one piece of advice they would give to Hamilton.<\/p>\n Hill stated his belief that Hamilton has made a legendary career out of doing things his own way, and not following the advice of others.<\/p>\n That means Hamilton can \u201crest easy\u201d with the career that he has had regardless, to Hill\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you give anyone like Lewis any advice of any kind whatsoever?\u201d Hill questioned.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve watched him all the way and he\u2019s never accepted. He\u2019s done it his own way. He\u2019s done it how he wants to.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s proved a point, I think, which is that he\u2019s done what he wants to do, and that ultimately means he can rest easy.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause there\u2019s nothing more annoying than if you get advice and you\u2019re not really sure it\u2019s the right advice, you take it, and you do it, and you go, \u2018I shouldn\u2019t have done that. Why did I listen to that person.’\u201d<\/p>\n Herbert agreed that it is important to \u201csometimes listen to yourself\u201d, which formed the basis for the one piece of advice that he would give Hamilton, if in a position to.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably the one thing I would probably say, if I was close to him, was be honest.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause there is a point where things aren\u2019t going to be as easy as they once were. Your competitiveness is probably not going to be where it once was.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a point where you\u2019re going to have to sort of go: \u2018It\u2019s not quite where it was, and I\u2019ve got to go. I\u2019ve had my time.’\u201d<\/p>\n Hill asked Herbert whether he believes that Hamilton discovered this last year in his challenging first season with Ferrari.<\/p>\n Hamilton failed to score a podium in 2025, which, combined with a series of negative statements, sparked question marks over his Formula 1 future.<\/p>\n Hamilton did return refreshed for F1 2026, his results and demeanour more positive. Hamilton achieved his first Ferrari podium with a P3 in China.<\/p>\n Hill continued: \u201cHe had such an awful time, but he\u2019s come back with a much better frame of mind this year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems to me, he\u2019s come to terms with the fact that he\u2019s at that end of his career, and that you simply can\u2019t keep doing the instinctive things you do when you\u2019re 20.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Lewis Hamilton from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton \u2018outclassed\u2019 by Charles Leclerc at Suzuka, says Eddie Irvine<\/a><\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton explains why he is enjoying F1 2026 amid Max Verstappen frustration<\/a><\/p>\n Herbert took back over with: \u201cHe\u2019s with a younger teammate as well [Charles Leclerc], who is sort of that next generation that we\u2019ve seen, and there is always going to be that as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWith all the races that we\u2019ve seen in the past, the world champions we\u2019ve had, from the Fittipaldis, to before that, the Stewarts and the Clarks, then with the Piquets and Mansells, yourself, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, and etc, it always gets better. They always get more complete, for some reason.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is where things change, and where you get to a point where you go, \u2018It\u2019s not as easy as it once was.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSo for me, I think it\u2019s just being honest with yourself, and when you need to sort of go, \u2018I need to hang my boots up.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s motivated. He\u2019s still thoroughly pushing himself to the limits.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, of course, he\u2019s being tested by Charles. But is he at the point where it\u2019s as easy as it once was.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re sort of riding the wave, it\u2019s quite easy in many respects. But there is a point, I remember at the end of my career, where it wasn\u2019t as easy, and then that\u2019s where I went, \u2018I think time has come\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton believes that his strong start to F1 2026 demonstrates that he can still hang at the front.<\/p>\n After three rounds, he sits fourth in the Drivers\u2019 Championship standings<\/a>, a position and eight points behind Leclerc.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n