No wonder Lewis Hamilton this week made it clear he is excited for next season after all. Because no matter what some talking heads are saying about his future, he would be crazy to walk away from Formula 1 right now, no matter how grim this year has been.

The temptation is understandable – we’ve never seen the Ferrari driver as disillusioned as he has been at times in the media pen after qualifying sessions and races this year. In Las Vegas, the 40-year-old said it has been “definitely the hardest year” of his career after qualifying dead last.

Twenty-four hours later, Hamilton mumbled that he was ready for the campaign to end and, worryingly, that he was not looking forward to next season. I was in the media pen for both and have never witnessed the seven-time champion look so downcast.

But Hamilton wears his heart on his sleeve and we need to remember those quotes come from interviews that happen just a few minutes after getting out of the car, when the disappointment is still so raw.

It’s been a dreadful year but, with new engine and aerodynamic design rules coming into force next term, it means nothing in terms of a yardstick for 2026. You never know, Ferrari may be the ones to get it right and Hamilton and Charles Leclerc might spend the whole year in a two-Prancing Horse race for the title.

Or it could be another miserable year of finishing about sixth in most races, watching on with jealousy as others take all the glory. If the latter happens, no-one could blame Hamilton for choosing to call it a day. But retiring this year without knowing where Ferrari’s car will stand next term wouldn’t just be premature – it would be plain daft.

As if racing in Qatar wasn’t already uninspiring enough, this weekend’s action has been ruined further still by the introduction of another artificial rule. At least this one does have some safety value, with tyres limited to a total of 25 laps because the abrasive tarmac in Qatar chews up rubber like nothing else.

But what it means is everyone will be on pretty much the same pit strategy and pushing flat out between stops. So while the track may have more overtaking opportunities than in Monaco, it could end up being another race where, once qualifying is over, you know pretty much where you’re going to finish.

From the archive

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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri won’t be playing the team game in Qatar this year(Image: Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Lando Norris raised eyebrows in the Qatar Sprint last year by moving aside to let team-mate Oscar Piastri win. With the title on the line, there’s no chance he will repeat that gesture this time…

Fast fact

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are the two drivers who have won a Grand Prix in Qatar, and are also the only ones to have led a lap in the previous three visits to the Gulf state.

Inside track

Adrian Newey may have been installed as the latest team principal at Aston Martin, but it’s understood they remain in talks with at least one other outside candidate about a possible future leadership role within the squad. But it isn’t Christian Horner!