'If he's not quick...' - Lewis Hamilton sent incredibly scary retirement warning

From one British Formula 1 world champion to another, Lewis Hamilton has been warned to pick up his pace, or else Ferrari could pull the trigger on his retirement without consulting him.

Since moving to Ferrari, Hamilton hasn't had much joy - and that's an understatement.

The opening four Grands Prix in the 2026 season have improved on a dismal 2025 for Ferrari, securing three podium finishes already, including one for Sir Lewis.

But the rosso red arrows still seem way off the pace to be long-term Constructor's Championship contenders, and Hamilton, especially, has fallen behind teammate Leclerc.

With the Canadian Grand Prix looming, fellow Brit Jenson Button has now hit his compatriot with a damning stance that he needs to race quicker or Ferrari will put him in the retirement home.

Jenson Button says Lewis Hamilton needs to find pace, and quickly

Ferrari brought an upgrade package to the Miami Grand Prix but came away with their worst result of the campaign, with a 6th-place finish for Hamilton and an 8th for Leclerc.

With few signs of Ferrari launching title challenges, the retirement rumour mill has begun spinning around Lewis Hamilton, with the 40-year-old potentially dropping the bombshell at Silverstone this year.

Even though he's managed to outperform Leclerc as many times as he's been beaten by his teammate, drawing a stalemate in the internal battle, Jenson Button has now claimed that Lewis needs to score more points or his team will pull the pin on his career.

Speaking to ESPN, Button said, "Obviously, last year was not the easiest for Lewis."

"If he is as quick as he thinks he should be, then it is fine, and it doesn't matter what other people say from the outside. If he is doing a job that he thinks is good enough, then he will have that confidence and want to carry on if he is enjoying it.

"If he is not quick, the team will make a decision.

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"You can't just leave it up to a driver when they retire. If they are not quick enough, they are not quick enough.

"But Lewis, this year, has shown he has still got the speed. I have no idea if he will carry on beyond this season, but I don't see why he wouldn't."

Hamilton isn't the only UK racer in the firing line before the lights go out in Canada, as George Russell has also been hit with an equally scathing assessment by pundits as he falls down the Mercedes pecking order at the hands of teenager Kimi Antonelli.

But while Russell has the luxury of having time on his hands, any shortcomings from Hamilton's camp end in the same conclusion.

So much so that this isn't the first time a pundit has told him to hang up the helmet.

Earlier this month, Ralf Schumacher blasted the seven-time world champion, claiming it's "time to vacate the cockpits."