The Formula 1 world is in an uproar following a remarkable statement made by Max Verstappen, directed at Lewis Hamilton, during a press conference after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on April 20, 2025. The four-time Red Bull world champion was responding to rumours that Hamilton, who is struggling with his move to Ferrari, could retire at the end of the 2025 season. Verstappen, who finished second behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri after a five-second penalty, added fuel to the fire by saying: “If Lewis really gives up, he shows that he is not the fighter I thought he was.” The comment, recorded by Sky Sports F1, has sparked heated debate among fans and pundits alike, as Hamilton’s future in the sport looks increasingly uncertain.

Hamilton’s start to life at Ferrari in 2025 has been disappointing. After a much-hyped move from Mercedes, where he raced for 12 years, the seven-time champion won the sprint race in China but was disqualified from the feature race. He has not finished higher than fifth in the first five races of the season, with a seventh place in Jeddah the low point, 30.969 seconds behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who finished third. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher suggested on Sky Germany’s Backstage Pit Lane podcast that Hamilton may think, “I’m not going to do this to myself anymore,” and retire at the end of 2025. The speculation has been fueled by Hamilton’s dismal interviews, which Martin Brundle has described as “difficult to watch”.

Verstappen’s comments come at a time when he himself is under pressure. Despite taking pole position in Jeddah, a penalty for cutting the track while battling Piastri cost him victory. He is eight points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris in the championship and three behind Piastri, who took the lead after Jeddah. Red Bull’s RB21 is struggling with balance issues, with Verstappen admitting to Formula1.com: “It’s not where I want it to be yet.” Still, he remains focused, and his comment about Hamilton seems both a provocation and an acknowledgement of their rivalry. “I’m focused on my own race, but if Lewis gives up, that’s his choice,” he added, according to The Guardian.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur continues to back Hamilton. After Jeddah, he declared he was “2000% behind Lewis” and pointed to the period of adaptation needed for the SF-25, a car that Hamilton “doesn’t understand at all,” according to Giedo van der Garde. Leclerc, who took his first podium of 2025 in Saudi Arabia, outpaces Hamilton in qualifying with a 4-1 lead and an average of 0.327 seconds faster. Despite the criticism, Hamilton remains optimistic about Ferrari’s potential, telling The Guardian: “This is the greatest team in the history of Formula 1.” However, he called the current ground-effect cars “the worst” of his career, a sign of his frustration.

Rumors of Hamilton’s retirement have been fueled by his age – he is 40 – and intense competition from younger drivers such as Piastri and Norris. Sebastian Vettel, himself a Ferrari veteran, tried to encourage Hamilton on Sky Sports F1: “He is not the most successful driver ever for nothing. It will be fine.” But speculation about his future continues, partly due to Verstappen’s statement, which provoked reactions on X. User @F1Insider wrote: “Max challenges Lewis, but this is disrespectful.” Others, such as @RaceFanNL, supported Verstappen: “Max is right, a champion does not give up.”

Meanwhile, Verstappen’s own future remains a topic of conversation. Despite rumours of a move to Mercedes or Aston Martin, Red Bull’s Oliver Mintzlaff confirmed to Express.co.uk that Verstappen “will be with us until he retires”. A supposed sabbatical in 2026, suggested by the BBC’s Andrew Benson, was denied by Verstappen himself: “I only think about my car and my team.” Formula 1 now heads to Miami for the May 2-4 race, with Hamilton under pressure to perform and Verstappen looking to cement his title defence. The rivalry between these two giants continues to dominate the sport, both on and off the track.