In explaining his decision, he said: “I have to admit that when I was rolling through the gravel and when I stood up I thought to myself, ‘Okay Jorge, is this really worth it, after what I’ve achieved? I’m done with it; I don’t want to race anymore’.

“But then I got home and decided to give it a try again. But the truth is from that moment the hill became so high for me that I wasn’t able to find the motivation to keep trying to climb this mountain.”

Announced at the final race in Valencia, Lorenzo’s retirement ended an 18-year journey in motorcycle racing, during which he amassed 47 premier class wins and five world championships.

Niki Lauda

Another driver with a double retirement, Niki Lauda first quit Formula 1 at the end of 1979 after two titles, in 1975 and 1977.

Following two difficult seasons with Brabham, Lauda felt increasingly disillusioned with F1, saying he no longer wanted to “continue the silliness of driving around in circles”.

The Austrian was also keen on focusing on his burgeoning airline business, Lauda Air.

His retirement was short-lived, as he was coaxed back into F1 by McLaren team principal Ron Dennis in 1982.

Lauda returned with renewed determination, ultimately winning his third world championship in 1984 in an intense battle against team-mate Prost.

After finishing the 1985 season, plagued by mechanical retirements, Lauda retired permanently from driving. His final race was the 1985 Australian Grand Prix, where a brake failure forced him out of the lead.

Lauda remained deeply involved in motor sport as an advisor and team principal.

Sebastian Vettel

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel announced his surprising retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season.

He had risen to prominence with Red Bull Racing, winning consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013 and scoring a total of 53 grand prix victories, ranking him third on the all-time wins list behind only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher at the time.

Vettel’s later years were spent with Ferrari and Aston Martin, where despite flashes of brilliance, he struggled to add to his trophy haul.

Throughout his final seasons, Vettel became a prominent advocate for social and environmental causes, earning respect not just for his driving but also for his values.

His decision to retire at age 35 was influenced by a desire to spend more time with his family and focus on life beyond racing.

In his farewell announcement, Vettel emphasised the importance of identity beyond the track and the need for change and progress both within and outside the sport.

“My passion for racing and Formula 1 comes with lots of time spent away from them, and takes a lot of energy,” he said. “Committing to my passion the way I did and the way I think is right, no longer goes side-by-side with my wish to be a great father and husband.

“The energy it takes to become one with the car and the team, to chase perfection, takes focus and commitment.

“My goals have shifted from winning races and fighting for championships to seeing my children grow, passing on my values, helping them up when they fall, listening to them when they need me, not having to say goodbye, and most importantly being able to learn from them and let them inspire me.”

Kalle Rovanperä

Two-time World Rally champion Kalle Rovanperä is the latest driver to announce his shock retirement, leaving the WRC at just 25 years old.

He made the decision public in October 2025, explaining that after achieving so much in rallying — including becoming the youngest WRC winner at 20 and the youngest world champion at 22 — it was the right time to pursue new challenges in motor sport.

Instead of stepping away from racing entirely, Rovanperä will join the Japanese Super Formula series in 2026 with Toyota’s backing.

This move is unprecedented, as few rally stars have switched to high-level single-seater racing, but it aligns with his long-term dream to one day race in Formula 1.

“This decision has not been an easy one, but it’s one that I have been thinking about for a while,” Rovanpera said. “It has been a tough decision, but it feels like the right one to pursue my next dreams and challenges.

“I know that it’s jumping straight into the deep end, coming from rallying, but I’m really looking forward to it and together with TGR we have a good plan to prepare in the best way possible and to try and make the most of it.”

Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart’s retirement from F1 in 1973 was both surprising and poignant, coming at the height of his career.

After dominating the championship in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stewart won three world championships (1969, 1971, and 1973) and held the then-record for most grand prix victories with 27 wins.

With the title won, Stewart had planned to retire after the final race of the 1973 season at Watkins Glen, but his protégé and team-mate François Cevert, was killed in a practice crash ahead of the United States GP.

The loss deeply affected Stewart, and he withdrew from the Grand Prix, which would have been his 100th world championship race, ending his F1 career there.

“I was getting depressed by the pace of my life, the limit of being at home, I had two little boys and of course Helen,” Stewart said in 2023 in the Beyond the Grid podcast.

“I had been doing enormous travel, in the days we speak of and my day as a racing driver, we don’t make the money that is made today and to make proper money you had to do a lot of races.

“It wasn’t just the question of Formula 1, nobody [just] did Formula 1, so I was doing Can-Am, was doing Indianapolis, Touring Cars, GT Cars, everything you can think of on a global basis and most of my friends was dying as it went along.

“My wife counted 57 friends that had died that holidayed with, travelled with and of course raced with. I think it all got on top of me.”

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso’s retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 2018 season was unexpected, especially given his relentless competitive drive.

At 37 years old, Alonso stepped away after 17 seasons marked by two world championships and 32 grand prix wins.

His decision was largely driven by frustration with McLaren’s lack of competitiveness during its reunion with Honda for the start of the hybrid era.

Alonso found himself stuck in the midfield and was often hit by mechanical problems.

He also expressed disappointment with the championship’s direction, citing factors like predictable race outcomes.

Alonso made it clear that after such a long career, it was time to seek new challenges beyond Formula 1.

“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” he said. “I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who have contributed to make them all so special.

“Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner.”

After his F1 exit, Alonso excelled in other motor sport disciplines, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and competing in the Indy 500 and the Dakar Rally.

The Spaniard returned to Formula 1 in 2021 with Alpine before moving to Aston Martin in 2023. At 44 years old, Alonso will enter his 23rd F1 season in 2026.