Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari might have been the most anticipated event in the history of Formula 1.
Typically, moves in the F1 driver market are done during the previous year’s summer break, although ironically, nothing has been announced in the weeks since the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas appears to be closing in on a move to Cadillac, and his Mercedes counterparts, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, are expected to continue in their current roles for next year.
Antonelli is on the grid because Lewis Hamilton decided before the 2024 F1 season even started that he would join Ferrari this year.
TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacN/AN/AFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN/AN/ARacing BullsN/AN/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers
Hamilton didn’t have the easiest final season with the Silver Arrows, but he was able to watch on as Ferrari came within one race of winning the constructors’ championship ahead of McLaren.
Team principal Fred Vasseur was very excited about Hamilton’s arrival, but it hasn’t gone to plan so far.
Journalist and author Leo Turrini believes that the Scuderia made a promise to Hamilton that hasn’t been delivered on this season.
Ferrari might only have one more chance to fulfil that promise before the seven-time world champion potentially retires from Formula 1.
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Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton ‘trusted’ Ferrari to deliver a ‘top car’ in pre-season promise
Hamilton has an option to extend his Ferrari deal to 2027, but whether he wants to continue in Formula 1 if he doesn’t have a race-winning car is a crucial question he’ll have to answer one day.
Reporting on the Sky Race Anatomy, Turrini was speaking about the 40-year-old’s situation at Ferrari this season.
Turrini found that Hamilton, struggling to adapt to a new car and life in Italy, was having an effect, but he had very different expectations for the SF-25 compared to what was delivered.
Ferrari made sweeping changes to their 2025 car compared to the machine Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were driving.
Position Constructors’ Standings PointsPts 1 559 2 260 3 236 4 194 5 70 6 52 7 51 8 45 9 35 10 20
This appears to have backfired, and speaking about his season so far, Turrini explained: “It’s not that someone like Hamilton chooses Ferrari because someone promises him Newey.
“They obviously promised him a top car, and he trusted them, first and foremost, Vasseur, his mentor in his youth.
“Without Fred in Maranello, Lewis wouldn’t have come. As for Leclerc, he has been betting on the Scuderia since he was a teenager. If he doesn’t make it, he’ll try elsewhere. But with whom?”
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 career looks set to end with Ferrari
Hamilton’s F1 career isn’t going to last forever, even if Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin might provide some inspiration that he’s still got a few years left in the tank.
However, he’ll need to sign a new deal to extend his stay on the grid beyond 2027 if he exercises the option in his contract.
CategoryLewis HamiltonCharles Leclerc2025 points109151Grand Prix results*211Grand Prix qualifying410Grand Prix wins00Grand Prix poles01Grand Prix podiums05Best finish4th3rdDisqualifications11Retirements00Retirements (classified finish)00Fastest laps00Grand Prix points finishes1212Sprint results21Sprint Qualifying12Sprint wins10Sprint poles10Sprint podiums20The 2025 F1 teammate head-to-head battle of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
*Both Ferrari drivers were disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix
It’s expected that Hamilton will end his Formula 1 career with Ferrari, as although he’s still a huge name in the sport, the reason he’s still racing is to be successful with the Scuderia.
Speaking exclusively to F1 Oversteer commentator Alex Jacques has named the driver in a ‘brilliant’ position to replace Hamilton one day.
That’s not something that Hamilton will want to think about, or that he’ll want team principal Fred Vasseur to be considering.