Last Updated on October 9 2025, 11:56 am
Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari is facing a narrowing window to achieve the elusive eighth Formula 1 World Championship, which would see him surpass Michael Schumacher’s record. Two of the sport’s most respected F1 drivers, Jenson Button and Riccardo Patrese, have offered their thoughts on the veteran’s situation, both suggesting that time is rapidly running out for the 40-year-old driver to fulfil his dream of racing for Ferrari. Meanwhile, bosses at Ferrari are known to be holding a crisis meeting this week.
Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025 amid great expectation, hoping to end the team’s long title drought and secure his own place in the record books. However, as the season progresses, Ferrari’s ongoing struggles are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
Patrese sets a two-year deadline
The former Ferrari driver believes Hamilton’s window to win with Ferrari is short. Speaking to Escapist Magazine, he suggested that the Briton has at most two years left to make his championship dream a reality.
“Next year, in a new era of cars and rules, he’ll maybe give it another year before he says ‘goodbye’,” he said, effectively setting a deadline for the seven-time world champion.
Patrese expressed hope that Hamilton’s experience could prove crucial during this transition.
“He can provide valuable insights to help Ferrari improve its internal organisation,” he said.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will introduce new power unit regulations and car designs that could shake up the competitive order. Like many in Italy, Patrese believes that this regulatory change could provide Hamilton with the fresh start he needs.
“As an Italian, I hope Ferrari will find a solution,” he added.
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Button has questioned Hamilton’s future direction
Jenson Button, Hamilton’s former McLaren teammate and 2009 World Champion, shared similar doubts about how long Hamilton will remain on the grid. Speaking to Sky Sports, Button described 2026 as a defining year: “With the new rule changes, which are massive for next year, we’ll either see the best Lewis or a Lewis who’s retiring.”
Hamilton, who signed a contract with Ferrari running until the end of 2026, reportedly has the option to extend it by a further year. Despite his difficult start at Ferrari, Button acknowledged glimpses of the old Hamilton, referencing his sprint race victory in Shanghai earlier this season.
“He said he felt comfortable in the car, but he’s not consistent enough to maintain that level of confidence throughout the season,” Button explained.
Settling into Ferrari has also presented challenges beyond the track. Button noted that Hamilton no longer has his familiar support structure.
“At Mercedes, he had his team of people around him. At Ferrari, everything is new, and that takes time,” he said, emphasising that the adaptation process may take longer than fans expect.
Bosses arrange special meeting as Ferrari’s crisis deepens
While Hamilton works to adapt, the situation in Maranello is becoming increasingly tense. According to reports from Sky Italia, Ferrari’s senior management could convene an emergency meeting to address the team’s ongoing difficulties. Both Chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna are expected to visit Maranello in the coming days, a simultaneous appearance that Italian media outlets are describing as highly unusual during the season.
Sky Italia reported that a “serious conversation” is being planned to address one of Ferrari’s “darkest moments”, with the leadership expected to discuss the reasons for the team’s decline and possible solutions.
The broadcaster said that decisions about the team’s direction may need to be made soon, as the 2025 campaign is at risk of becoming irrelevant.
Ferrari entered the 2025 season hoping to challenge Red Bull and McLaren, but these ambitions have quickly faded. The SF-25, Ferrari’s current car, has been plagued by aerodynamic inconsistencies, poor tyre management and operational errors. The team is now behind not only McLaren and Red Bull, but also occasionally Mercedes and even Aston Martin in terms of performance.
Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are well down the drivers’ standings in fifth and sixth place respectively, and are far from contention.
Error analysis and engineering issues
Several internal reviews have already been conducted within Ferrari to identify where development went wrong. Engineers have identified specific weaknesses in the SF-25’s design, particularly its sensitivity to wind and its unstable aerodynamic balance, but these issues remain unresolved several months into the season. This lack of progress has deepened the frustration of fans and the Ferrari hierarchy.
Insiders suggest that morale at Maranello has dipped as technical staff struggle to deliver meaningful updates.
Hamilton’s arrival was intended to bring new energy and direction to the team, but its culture of caution and committee-style decision-making appears to be unchanged. The anticipated ‘Hamilton effect’ has yet to materialise, leaving observers wondering whether Ferrari can provide the machinery needed for its star signing.
However, the new regulations in 2026 offer a potential lifeline. With sweeping changes to power units, chassis design and aerodynamics, teams will have the chance to reset the competitive balance. Ferrari, with its resources and heritage, could seize that moment — but doing so requires strategic clarity long before the new rules take effect.
Hamilton’s challenge in red
For Hamilton, the road ahead is both an opportunity and a risk. His early races with Ferrari have shown glimpses of brilliance, but have also highlighted the frustration of unfulfilled potential. The car’s performance window is narrow, forcing Hamilton to take risks to achieve results. This has resulted in errors, as evidenced by his struggles to match Leclerc’s one-lap pace in qualifying sessions. However, on Sundays, Hamilton’s racecraft and experience have often enabled him to secure valuable points.
However, such resilience may not be enough. Hamilton joined Ferrari to fight for wins and titles, not to manage expectations. As Button noted, his career will be defined by whether he can make Ferrari a championship contender under the new rules, or whether he will choose to retire as one of the sport’s greatest champions before his competitive spirit fades.
However, the partnership has yet to bear fruit. Despite leadership changes and restructuring, Ferrari’s organisational challenges, ranging from strategic missteps to internal politics, have persisted. While Hamilton and Leclerc publicly express unity, the pressure inside the team is mounting. Italian media outlets have already begun speculating about potential leadership changes if results do not improve.
A defining season lies ahead
The coming year could determine how Hamilton’s Ferrari tenure is remembered in history. If the Scuderia can capitalise on the upcoming regulation overhaul, Hamilton might yet find himself in the title fight he envisaged when he signed his contract. However, if the current malaise continues, his time in red could end not with glory, but with quiet resignation.
Riccardo Patrese’s warning and Jenson Button’s cautious words highlight what many in the paddock quietly believe: that Hamilton’s opportunity to add another chapter to his record-breaking career is running out. The sport’s most successful driver will soon have to decide whether to persist in the hope of Ferrari’s rebirth or accept that the dream of an eighth world title may remain just that: a dream.
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A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
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