The seven-time Formula 1 world champion will therefore have the possibility to decide whether to extend his adventure as a Scuderia Ferrari driver for the 2027 season.
The details of the multi-year agreement
On 1 February 2024, Ferrari N.V. (NYSE/EXM: RACE) announced in an official statement: “Ferrari N.V. (‘Ferrari’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will join the Scuderia Ferrari team starting from the 2025 season, with a multi-year contract.” This brief but significant press release confirmed that Lewis Hamilton would be driving for the Maranello-based team from 2025 onwards.
The announcement made it clear from the outset that Hamilton would compete for Ferrari for at least two full seasons, meaning his presence in the team is guaranteed until the end of 2026. This is a particularly notable detail, as the 2026 Formula 1 season will see an entirely new technical era, with major regulation changes impacting everything from the car chassis to the power units. That year is seen by Lewis Hamilton as a golden opportunity to return to the top, especially given that he has openly struggled with the current generation of ground-effect cars since their introduction.
Several respected figures within the Formula 1 paddock have noted that one of Lewis Hamilton’s greatest strengths throughout his career has been his exceptional braking ability. However, with the current technical regulations, maximising performance in this area has been a persistent challenge for the British driver since he arrived in Maranello.
In modern Formula 1, it has become common for teams and drivers to announce so-called “multi-year deals” that, in reality, often include clauses or options allowing one or both parties to shorten or extend the agreement. A typical example is the contract extension Lewis Hamilton signed with Mercedes in the second half of 2023. Although presented as a two-year deal, it was in fact a 1+1 agreement, giving Lewis Hamilton the option to leave after just one season — which he ultimately exercised to make the move to Ferrari.
Now, according to a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Luigi Perna, the contract between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari follows a similar pattern. While it is officially described as a multi-year deal, it is structured as a guaranteed two-year agreement for 2025 and 2026, with an additional option for 2027 in favour of the driver. This means that after the 2026 season, Hamilton will have complete control over whether he continues with Scuderia Ferrari or ends his stint in red.
