Lewis Hamilton has responded to fans questioning his social media usage during the off-season. The seven-time world champion pledged to engage in a digital detox during the winter break, claiming that he would throw his phone ‘in the bin’ after wrapping up his F1 duties at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The season-ending triple header was an unfortunately fitting end to Hamilton’s maiden campaign with Ferrari, as the legendary British racer suffered three consecutive Q1 eliminations and concluded the year with no top-seven finishes in his last five Grands Prix.
Feeling downbeat after a challenging year, Hamilton told the media at the Yas Marina Circuit: “At the moment I’m only looking forward to the break, just to disconnecting, not speaking to anyone.
“No one will be able to get in touch with me this winter. I won’t have my phone with me, and I’m looking forward to that. Completely unplug from the matrix. I’ve generally always had it around. But this time, it’s going in the freaking bin.”
However, despite his comments in the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi GP, Hamilton has remained active on social media. The 40-year-old published snaps taken from his phone at a Lululemon promotional event, and has since kept fans updated on his holiday to New York, posting videos of some winter training runs and social commitments.
In the comments of an X post from his New York vacation, a fan wrote: “sir this doesn’t look like a social media detox???” Hamilton replied to explain: “all about balance.” In his next post, another fan asked about his screen time, and the seven-time world champion confirmed that it was “low,” accompanied by a peace sign emoji.
Despite a challenging first season in Maranello, team principal Fred Vasseur still believes in the Hamilton project. The 40-year-old’s chances of becoming the sport’s first eight-time world champion now hinge on a dramatic comeback for both team and driver in 2026.
“It was difficult for Lewis,” Vasseur confessed in a post-season Ferrari event. “I personally underestimate the step. It’s not that we are doing worse or better; it’s that we are just doing differently. It’s not just about the food or the weather; it’s that every single software is different, every single component is different. The people around him, they were different.”
Some in the paddock speculated that the British racing icon could even cut his contract short and retire from the sport during the winter. However, Hamilton remains committed to his Ferrari dream heading into the new technical regulations in 2026.