Outside Line: Who will tell Lewis Hamilton that his time is up with Ferrari and Formula 1?

Opinion columnist Paul Velasco, writing on May 12, 2026, argues that Lewis Hamilton's hopes of winning a record eighth Formula 1 World Championship at Ferrari are fading, as teammate Charles Leclerc has consistently outperformed him since they joined the team together. Velasco draws parallels to the disappointing late-career stints of Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen, and Sebastian Vettel, suggesting Hamilton may be overstaying his welcome. The column poses the question of who will ultimately tell the seven-time champion that his time in Formula 1 is over.