In a move that has left the motorsport world reeling, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has announced he will be stepping away from Formula 1 at the end of the 2025 season—not for retirement, but to pursue a full-time role in space exploration and advanced sustainability projects with SpaceX and the United Nations Climate Initiative.
Yes, you read that right.
During a stunning press conference held this morning in Monaco, Hamilton, 40, stood before a crowd of stunned journalists and fans, flanked by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and UN Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, to reveal the details of his groundbreaking career pivot. “It’s time to push the boundaries beyond the racetrack,” Hamilton said, visibly emotional. “I\’ve always believed in chasing the impossible. Now, I\’m taking that literally—by going to space.”
Hamilton revealed he will be joining SpaceX’s first multi-national civilian space program as both an astronaut and climate ambassador, working to raise awareness about Earth’s environmental fragility from the most distant vantage point possible: low Earth orbit and beyond. His first mission is slated for mid-2026, just months after the conclusion of the F1 season.
What’s even more unbelievable? Hamilton says he already completed astronaut training in secret over the past 18 months, balancing it with his Formula 1 commitments—a feat that insiders are calling “superhuman.” Photos and footage shown at the press event depict Hamilton in zero-gravity training, complex simulations, and even high-orbit test flights aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
The announcement comes as Hamilton is locked in a fierce title battle with Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, potentially heading toward his eighth world title, which would break the all-time record he shares with Michael Schumacher. If successful, Hamilton would step away from the sport not only as the most decorated driver in F1 history, but also as its most unpredictable icon.
Reactions from the F1 paddock have ranged from awe to disbelief. Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas, admitted he only learned of Hamilton’s space ambitions a few weeks ago. “He’s always been a dreamer,” Wolff said. “But to see this actually happen? It’s beyond even what I thought Lewis was capable of.”
Meanwhile, Elon Musk described Hamilton as “a visionary with the discipline of a champion,” confirming that the F1 legend will be a “core figure” in SpaceX’s effort to promote global cooperation through space technology.
Fans across the globe have taken to social media with mixed emotions—shock, pride, and sadness that the racing legend’s days on track may soon be over. Trending hashtags include
And in perhaps the most unexpected twist of all: Hamilton ended the conference by teasing the development of a zero-emission racing league in orbit, aimed at inspiring a new generation of environmentally conscious motorsport fans.
“Motorsport changed my life,” he said. “Now I want to change the world—and maybe even a few others.”
One thing is certain: no one saw this coming, and the legend of Lewis Hamilton has just entered a whole new orbit.
