Lewis Hamilton made an alarming statement in the media pen after qualifying P12 for the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, which cast doubt on his future with Ferrari in Formula 1.
Hamilton seemed downtrodden with his comments after the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he stated that Ferrari simply needs to change drivers in order to enjoy the same results Charles Leclerc is tallying in the other SF-25.
Hamilton has taken a hands-on approach with Ferrari engineers in the process of trying to make the SF-25 more comfortable in his own driving style.
At the beginning of the Belgian GP weekend, Hamilton revealed that he’s sent documents to Ferrari in the past, outlining issues that he is having with the car in hopes of the engineers coming up with a solution.
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Lewis Hamilton holds the key to the option of extending his Ferrari contract into 2027
It was previously reported that Hamilton’s multi-year contract at Ferrari was for two years, with an option to extend it for a third year, granted the team and driver are happy to do so.
However, in a recent report by La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is stated that the terms of the option to extend are in ‘favour’ of Hamilton, and the team don’t have too much of a say in his place at Ferrari in 2027. This is one of the reasons for Hamilton being so hands-on with operations inside the team.
Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The report goes on to state that he has spoken to Ferrari CEO John Elkann over ‘solutions’, pushed for the confirmation of Fred Vasseur’s new deal, and sent the aforementioned documents over to engineers, all in an effort to get to grips with the SF-25 as soon as possible.
Ferrari ‘will go along with him’ no matter what, due to the major commercial implications that Hamilton’s stature as a Ferrari driver brings with him. The report explains that the team has ‘no other choice’, with it being one of the repercussions of Elkann signing the ‘most successful driver in history’.
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Ferrari’s competitiveness in 2026 will decide Lewis Hamilton’s future in F1
Despite his dispirited comments in Hungary after claiming his first points-less Grand Prix finish for Ferrari, Hamilton clarified that he still loves racing.
The seven-time world champion is still on the hunt for his eighth title, and believed Ferrari were the team to grant him that when the bombshell of his exit from Mercedes was announced before the start of the 2024 season.
YEARTEAMWINS2008McLaren52014Mercedes112015Mercedes102017Mercedes92018Mercedes112019Mercedes112020Mercedes11Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 championship-winning seasons
However, as the ball is in Hamilton’s court over the option to extend into 2027, next season will be key in determining whether he has it in him to race for a 21st consecutive season in Formula 1.
If he shows poor pace in the overhauled 2026 Ferrari challenger, then it could be the last season that we see of Hamilton in F1.