Ferrari Reportedly Decides Against Extending Lewis Hamilton's Contract

Rumors are circulating that Ferrari will not offer Lewis Hamilton a new contract once his current multi-year deal, believed to run until the end of 2026, expires. This comes after a challenging inaugural season at Ferrari for the seven-time F1 world champion, marked by a significant performance gap to teammate Charles Leclerc and ongoing struggles with the SF-25 car.

Why it matters:

• This report suggests a potentially premature end to what was hailed as a monumental move in F1, raising questions about Hamilton's future in the sport beyond 2026.
• A decision against extending Hamilton's contract would reflect Ferrari's high performance expectations and their willingness to make tough choices to return to championship contention, potentially signaling a shift in their long-term driver strategy.

The Details:

• Disappointing Debut Season: Hamilton, at 40, has yet to secure a podium finish after 20 appearances with Ferrari in F1 2025.
  • He currently trails teammate Charles Leclerc by 64 points with four races remaining.
  • His best main race finish for Ferrari has been fourth place, while Leclerc has achieved seven podiums, including a second-place finish at the recent Mexican Grand Prix.
• Car Issues: The SF-25 has been plagued by a fundamental ride-height problem, forcing the team to raise the car's ride height, which has come at the cost of performance.
  • Hamilton's disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix after winning the sprint race due to excessive skid-block wear highlighted this issue.
• Contractual Speculation: Ferrari initially described Hamilton's deal as a "multi-year arrangement" without specifying an end date.
  • It's widely assumed his current contract, valued at an estimated $57 million, extends through the 2026 season.
  • ESPN reports that "several senior figures" at Ferrari have indicated there will be no extension offered after the current deal.
• Contradictory Report: An earlier report by La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Hamilton's contract includes a clause allowing him to extend his deal until the end of 2027, giving Ferrari "little say" in the matter.
  • However, it's questioned whether Hamilton would activate such a clause if his performance struggles continue.
• Hamilton's Proactive Approach: Despite his struggles, Hamilton has been actively involved in trying to improve the team's performance.
  • He has reportedly sent multiple detailed documents to Ferrari management, suggesting changes to the car, working methods, inter-departmental communication, and race weekend execution.
  • This initiative is driven by his "refusal" to repeat the experiences of champions like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, who failed to win titles with Ferrari.
  • One such report, following the Singapore Grand Prix, identified Ferrari's qualifying policy of sending both cars to the end of the pit lane as a weakness, arguing it compromised tire temperature and preparation.

What's next:

If the ESPN report proves true, Ferrari's decision not to extend Hamilton's contract could signal a strategic shift focusing on younger talent or a different long-term vision post-2026. Hamilton, despite his current woes, maintains he has "no intention of stopping anytime soon," suggesting he may explore other options if Ferrari closes its doors.