Lewis Hamilton’s future with the Maranello team has become the central focus of discussions as Formula 1 enters its summer break, and much of this scrutiny stems from the driver’s own recent actions and performances.
This season has been a challenging one for Lewis Hamilton, especially in the last two races. Although he managed to recover to seventh place at Spa after an early qualifying exit, his performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix was notably poor, finishing twelfth and failing to score any points on race day for the first time this year.
Despite these struggles, Lewis Hamilton remains under contract with Ferrari through the end of 2026, with an option to extend for an additional year. Given his status as a seven-time world champion and a high-profile figure in the sport, this contract was expected to provide a degree of stability and security for both parties.
However, following qualifying in Budapest, Hamilton made a striking admission, describing himself as “useless” and even suggesting that Ferrari might consider replacing him. While this idea may not currently be under serious discussion within the team, former driver Ralf Schumacher has indicated that Ferrari is not ignoring these comments and is taking them seriously.
Damon Hill’s pre-season warning about Hamilton’s tenure at Ferrari has gained renewed relevance in light of these developments. Hill had forecasted a scenario where Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari could unravel if the team failed to provide a competitive car.
Hill expressed strong confidence that Hamilton would leave Ferrari if the team’s performance fell short. Although Ferrari currently sits second in the constructors’ championship, they have yet to win a race this season and rarely appear to be genuine race winners.
In fact, some analysts argue that the Ferrari SF-25 is only the fourth-fastest car on the grid, behind those of Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren. This is reflected in the current standings, where Max Verstappen and George Russell are ahead of both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, as well as the McLaren drivers.
If Red Bull and Mercedes had two consistently elite drivers—rather than drivers like Yuki Tsunoda, who has struggled, or rookie Kimi Antonelli, still gaining experience—Ferrari might easily find themselves down in fourth place. While Hamilton has not been able to extract the maximum potential from the car, there is an expectation that Ferrari should be providing a more competitive package.
Back in January, Damon Hill highlighted the importance of car performance for Hamilton’s satisfaction. He warned that if Ferrari delivered a poor car, Lewis Hamilton’s motivation would quickly dissipate regardless of financial incentives. Hill was clear that the seven-time champion would leave the team swiftly if faced with uncompetitiveness.
In the words Hill conveyed, Lewis Hamilton would depart “faster than a scalded cat” if stuck in a car that was not capable of winning.
Inside the F1 paddock, opinions about Hamilton’s prospects are mixed, with surprising perspectives emerging about his ability to secure an eighth world championship. One former driver claimed that around 90% of Ferrari insiders were opposed to signing Hamilton, suggesting that the decision may not have been made for purely sporting reasons.
Statistically, 2024 marked Hamilton’s weakest season to date. While Ferrari had already committed to signing him by then, concerns about his performance had been visible since 2022.
Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes—the team with whom he forged the most successful partnership in F1 history—was motivated by his belief that Ferrari could offer him a better chance to capture an eighth world title. However, it quickly became evident that such ambitions would be difficult to realize in 2025, and much now depends on how the 2026 regulation changes affect the competitive landscape.
Nonetheless, many influential figures within the Formula 1 paddock still maintain faith in the Briton’s capacity to win another championship before retiring. While his career has hit a low point, insiders stress that the key to any future success lies in how well he adapts to and connects with the next generation of Formula 1 cars.
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