Ferrari’s turbulent 2025 Formula 1 campaign has taken another dramatic twist, as concerns inside Maranello have shifted from John Elkann’s public criticism of his drivers to a far more destabilising contractual issue. The Ferrari chairman recently urged Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to concentrate on their on-track performance rather than voicing frustrations, but the Scuderia now fear a scenario that could reshape the team’s future.
Ferrari entered the closing stages of the 2025 season already in damage-limitation mode. After arriving in Brazil holding second place in the constructors’ championship, the team emerged from the São Paulo Grand Prix having slipped to fourth. Their rivals — Mercedes and Red Bull — both outscored them, while Ferrari left Interlagos with only 362 points and two DNFs, as Lewis Hamilton retired after contact with Franco Colapinto and Charles Leclerc was eliminated following the clash between Oscar Piastri and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Hamilton has privately described his season at Ferrari as a nightmare, underlining how far the team has fallen from preseason expectations.
Yet the setbacks on track are overshadowed by a contractual bombshell reportedly uncovered by Italian outlet Fanpage. According to the report, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have clauses that would allow them to walk away from Ferrari at the end of the 2026 season without any financial penalty. The structure of the agreements allegedly permits either driver to leave freely if Ferrari fail to produce a title-fighting package under the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations.
Ferrari have not confirmed the existence of these clauses, but internally the possibility is said to have sparked genuine concern. Charles Leclerc’s situation appears even more precarious, as the terms of his deal reportedly grant him the right to leave even if he were to win the championship. The risk of losing both Lewis Hamilton and his Maranello teammate simultaneously in 2026 would leave Ferrari scrambling to rebuild in 2027, just as rival teams are expected to be refining their early understanding of the incoming regulatory era. Senior figures at Maranello are believed to be determined to avoid this outcome “at all costs.”
The fear surrounding Charles Leclerc’s potential departure is amplified by growing interest from rival teams. Although Ferrari extended his contract in early 2024 — a deal initially positioned as keeping him at Maranello until 2029 — the apparent escape options mean his long-term future is no longer guaranteed. Aston Martin are closely monitoring the situation with an eye on a 2027 move, especially as the team considers its post-Fernando Alonso and post-Lance Stroll driver lineup. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc’s representatives have reportedly made exploratory contact with Red Bull, anticipating the possibility that Max Verstappen could exit after 2026.
There are even whispers of a potential scenario involving McLaren, with suggestions that Charles Leclerc might evaluate a driver exchange with Oscar Piastri should the competitive landscape in 2027 favour such a move. With multiple top-tier teams showing interest, Ferrari’s anxiety is understandable: the Monegasque, a cornerstone of Ferrari’s long-term vision since joining their academy in 2016, now holds unprecedented leverage.
As the countdown to the sweeping 2026 Formula 1 rule changes continues, Ferrari find themselves not only battling performance issues but also confronting the possibility of an existential reset. If the Scuderia cannot deliver a competitive car within the next 18 months, they may face the unthinkable — losing both of their superstar drivers just as the sport enters a defining new era.
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