[Saba Sports News] As the 2026 Formula 1 season progresses, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has taken a firm stance on the future of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, stating outright that both legendary champions should retire from F1 at the end of the current campaign. Hamilton and Alonso are now the only members of the 40-plus club on the grid. Though the two still wield immense influence, Ralf Schumacher believes the times are changing and Formula 1 needs more young talent.
In Ralf Schumacher’s view, although Hamilton has seen a clear upturn in form compared with the 2025 season — showing greater stability both mentally and in race performances, and even claiming his first podium since joining Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix — he still does not believe Hamilton can outperform his teammate Charles Leclerc over a full season.
As for Alonso, it is widely believed that 2026 will be his swansong season. However, Alonso recently made it clear during the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco that he has no immediate plans to retire. He openly admitted that he still retains his competitive hunger and continues to enjoy driving an F1 car. On this matter, Ralf Schumacher argued that Alonso is now racing purely out of passion and struggles to score points consistently across the season. He added that if he were in team management, he would definitely not offer Alonso a contract extension.
In the editor’s opinion, Ralf Schumacher has repeatedly questioned the form, motivation and career prospects of Hamilton and Alonso. Such remarks should be regarded as personal opinions rather than influential calls for retirement. Furthermore, neither driver has adjusted their racing plans because of Ralf Schumacher’s comments.