Fresh revelations surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s future at Ferrari have rocked Formula 1, with new reports suggesting his contract with the Scuderia is significantly longer than initially assumed. According to Bild, the seven-time world champion is secured not only for the upcoming regulatory era, but also for a period well beyond 2026.
The German publication claims that Hamilton’s Ferrari deal runs until at least the end of the 2027 Formula 1 season. Even more intriguingly, the contract reportedly includes a unilateral option that would allow Hamilton to extend his stay by a further year, potentially keeping him at Ferrari until the end of 2028.
Hamilton’s clause
If he activates this clause, he will be 43 years old when the agreement expires. This information from BILD contrasts sharply with the widespread belief that Hamilton’s commitment to Ferrari would end in 2026, when the new engine regulations come into effect.
Neither Hamilton nor Ferrari has publicly confirmed the precise duration of the contract. When the blockbuster move was officially announced in February 2024, both parties described it only as a ‘multi-year’ agreement, leaving room for speculation ever since.
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Why did Ferrari keep the timeline vague?
Ferrari’s decision not to disclose exact contract details now appears deliberate. By avoiding a fixed end date, the team has retained flexibility and shielded itself from immediate pressure during what was always expected to be a transitional phase. For Hamilton, the structure reportedly offers security while preserving his control over how long he wishes to continue racing at the highest level.
Financially, the deal underlines Ferrari’s commitment to Hamilton as a sporting and commercial asset. The 40-year-old is said to earn around €55 million in salary alone per season, placing him among the highest-paid drivers in Formula 1 history.
In addition, Hamilton benefits from lucrative advertising partnerships and image-rights arrangements, which further enhance the overall value of the agreement.
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A nightmare start in red
On the track, however, Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari has fallen well short of expectations. What was billed as the perfect partnership between the sport’s most successful driver and its most iconic team quickly turned sour. For the first time in his Formula 1 career, he completed a full season without finishing in the top three in a Grand Prix.
The lone bright spot came in China, where he claimed victory in the sprint race. Hamilton struggled to consistently extract performance from the Ferrari over the course of the season, ultimately finishing sixth in the drivers’ championship. He finished the year behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who outperformed him by a substantial margin of 86 points, securing seven podium finishes.
As the season progressed, Hamilton’s difficulties became more pronounced, fuelling speculation that Ferrari might look elsewhere if results do not improve.
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Future not set in stone
Despite the reported length of the contract, it is far from guaranteed that Lewis Hamilton will see out the full term behind the wheel. Even though the options extend to 2027 or potentially 2028, the agreement is understood to give Hamilton significant flexibility. Given his age and the physical and mental demands of modern Formula 1, it is realistic to consider that he may choose not to activate the long-term elements of the deal if circumstances, sporting or personal, change.
As this website has previously reported, Ferrari insiders are already hearing quiet whispers that Hamilton could retire from active racing as early as next season. However, the leaked contract details suggest that retirement would not necessarily mean a clean break.
Even if Hamilton steps away from driving, Ferrari are likely to keep him closely tied to the brand in the long term, potentially in a high-profile ambassadorial or advisory role. This would enable Ferrari to continue to leverage Hamilton’s global appeal and commercial power while giving the seven-time world champion the freedom to redefine his relationship with the sport.
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Team principal Frédéric Vasseur has sought to strike a constructive tone, emphasising the need for better collaboration rather than placing blame. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Vasseur acknowledged the challenges of integrating a driver of Hamilton’s calibre into Ferrari’s existing structure.
“We need to improve our collaboration with Lewis. He needs to learn how to get the most out of the car. At the same time, we need to better understand exactly what he needs,” he said.
With reports now suggesting a long-term commitment, it seems that both Hamilton and Ferrari are invested in making the partnership work. Whether the extended contract will lead to a late-career resurgence or prove to be a costly gamble remains one of Formula 1’s most compelling questions.
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NEXT ARTICLE – F1 row erupting over 2026 regulation loophole
There was Williams active suspension in the 1990’s, Renault’s electronic gismos in the mid naughties, the double diffuser of the Brawn car and off throttle blowing by Red Bull and Renault. All loopholes in the regulation which a single team managed to exploit to win championships.
Now with the biggest set of technical regulations coming in the history of F1, another loophole is likely to cause a paddock row and a potential protest from certain teams come the season opener in Australia.
The grey area some manufacturers of the powertrains are seeking to exploit is over the new compression ratios for the internal combustion engine specified by the FIA.
Maximum compression rate for ICE reduced for 2026
Whilst no formal complaint has yet been made, the finger of suspicion has fallen upon Mercedes – who supply McLaren, Williams and Alpine together with Red Bull powertrains who supply the Racing Bulls and Red bull Racing.
The beef surrounds Article C5.4.3 of the new technical regulations which mandates a reduction in compression rates from 18.0:1 to 16.0;1. The reason behind this was to temper peak performance and deliver more efficient combustion in lines with the sport’s ever increasing green values, but it appears to have created a new complex battle between the manufacturers.
The loophole has been created by the FIA’s decision on how to measure the new ratio. Under the current rules this will…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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