Lewis Hamilton could be set to leave Ferrari at the end of next year, as strong rumours suggest the seven-time world champion may not be offered a contract extension once his current deal expires. According to reports from senior figures in the paddock, Ferrari are unlikely to renew Hamilton’s contract following a challenging debut season, during which teammate Charles Leclerc has dominated the team’s results.
Charles Leclerc has claimed all seven of Ferrari’s podiums this season, and in every competitive session where both drivers have been classified, he holds a 33-12 advantage over Hamilton. The Monegasque is now 64 points ahead in the championship standings. Despite Charles Leclerc’s impressive performances, Ferrari as a team have consistently underperformed, rarely coming close to race victories — a disappointing outcome for a squad targeting the world championship.
Fans on social media have reacted strongly to the rumours, suggesting that Ferrari may be unfairly blaming Hamilton for broader team shortcomings. The story, originally reported by ESPN and widely shared on Reddit, sparked consensus among fans that Ferrari are attempting to make Hamilton a scapegoat rather than addressing their structural and technical issues. One user argued that slow drivers have never been Ferrari’s main problem, while another pointed out that in the past 20 years, Ferrari’s biggest issues rarely stemmed from driver performance. Many highlighted Hamilton’s point that even highly accomplished drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso failed to win titles at Ferrari, suggesting that changing the driver would likely not solve the team’s deeper problems.
Fans described Ferrari’s approach as “classic Ferrari,” accusing Fred Vasseur’s management of overlooking fundamental organisational issues. One comment summed up the sentiment: “Imagine operating the way Ferrari operates and having the audacity to tell a seven-time world champion that your services are not required.”
The debate has extended to polls about whether signing Hamilton was a mistake. F1 Oversteer conducted a poll asking fans whether Ferrari’s decision to bring the Briton onboard was misguided. While the seven-time world champion has not consistently beaten his Maranello teammate, comparing him to predecessor Carlos Sainz is challenging given the limitations of the 2025 Ferrari machinery. Among 1,300 respondents, opinions were split, with 46.9% saying the signing was a mistake and 53.1% defending the move.
Speculation is now growing over who could replace Lewis Hamilton if he departs. Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has suggested that Oliver Bearman is ready for Ferrari. Ollie Bearman, currently racing for Haas and a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, is widely regarded as the most promising candidate to step into the Scuderia seat. Lewis Hamilton himself praised Bearman’s performance at the Mexican Grand Prix, describing it as “mega” after the young Brit finished a career-high fourth, a result that likely caught the attention of Ferrari management.
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