Fred Vasseur has insisted that it is \u201cnot the time\u201d to discuss a new contract for Lewis Hamilton after an impressive start to the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
It comes after reports in Italy ahead of last weekend\u2019s British Grand Prix claimed that the seven-time world champion is close to activating an option to remain with the team for 2027.<\/p>\n
Fred Vasseur: \u2018Not time\u2019 to discuss Lewis Hamilton Ferrari contract<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n After a challenging first season with Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton has enjoyed a much-improved start to the F1 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n The British driver claimed his first victory for the Scuderia at the Barcelona Grand Prix last month, with Hamilton adding further podium finishes in China, Canada,\u00a0 Monaco and Britain.<\/p>\n It is believed that the contract Hamilton signed to join Ferrari from Mercedes in January 2024 covered the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with an option to extend for 2027.<\/p>\n Unsubstantiated rumours in Italy last year claimed that the option exists purely on Hamilton\u2019s side.<\/p>\n What we\u2019re hearing: Lewis Hamilton\u2019s Ferrari contract<\/p>\n F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the F1 2026 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026 driver salaries: Who are the highest-paid drivers on the grid?<\/a><\/p>\n Fresh reports last week suggested that Hamilton is close to activating the option to guarantee his stay at Ferrari beyond this season.<\/p>\n Speaking to PlanetF1.com and other media outlets in an FIA press conference at last weekend\u2019s British Grand Prix, Vasseur was asked if talks over a new contract for Hamilton has started.<\/p>\n He replied: \u201cWho spoke about the extension? I will discuss with him for the extension, not with everybody.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is still under contract with us and it\u2019s not time to discuss about an extension.\u201d<\/p>\n Vasseur\u2019s comments come after Hamilton himself claimed earlier this year that he plans to remain in F1 \u201cfor some time.\u201d<\/p>\n He said at the Canadian Grand Prix: \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people that are trying to retire me.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not even on my thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m already thinking of what will be next and planning for like the next five years, but I still plan to be here for some time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still in contract, so everything\u2019s 100 per cent clear to me.<\/p>\n \u201cI still love what I do with all my heart and I\u2019m going to be here for quite some time, so get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2027 campaign will mark 20 years since Hamilton\u2019s debut season with McLaren in 2007, when he fell one point short of becoming F1\u2019s youngest-ever world champion.<\/p>\n The Stevenage-born driver clinched his first title by the same margin the following year before adding six titles in seven years with Mercedes between 2014 and 2020.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n