New and significant rumours are emerging regarding the future of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, particularly concerning the duration of his contract, which could reportedly depend directly on the wishes of the British driver himself.
In recent weeks, much of the focus within the Formula 1 paddock has been placed on the 2026 regulations, with Mercedes reportedly having exploited a grey area that may have effectively pushed the boundaries of the rules. However, amid this regulatory turbulence, a new development has also surfaced regarding the length of Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari, suggesting that he could independently decide to extend his time in red.
From an official standpoint, the only confirmed information regarding Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract is that he signed a multi-year agreement. Over the past year, there has initially been talk of a two-year deal, with an option for the 2027 season reportedly in the hands of the seven-time world champion. Shortly afterwards, a different version emerged, according to which the decision after 2026 would not rest directly with the British driver, but rather with Ferrari itself, which would have the power to decide whether or not to continue with the driver wearing the iconic number 44. However, the latest reports appear to outline a different scenario.
The possible length of the contract
While earlier speculation revolved around two-year agreements, the German newspaper Bild has recently reported that the deal could in fact be a three-year contract. Under this scenario, Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari would run until the end of the 2027 season. At the same time, another intriguing detail has emerged.
According to these reports, at the end of his third season in red, the British driver could hold an option to continue racing for Ferrari into the 2028 campaign. In this case, Ferrari would reportedly have no say in the decision and would not even be able to choose to replace Lewis Hamilton should he decide to activate the option and extend his stay with the team.
Clearly, this information should not be taken as definitive. The contractual situation has already evolved on two separate occasions, with different versions circulating at different times. What is certain, however, is that Lewis Hamilton will need to reverse the trend in 2026 compared to the current season.
For the first time in his Formula 1 career, the British driver failed to finish at least one race on the podium during the 2025 season, marking a negative record in the history of the Prancing Horse. This statistic underlines the difficulty of the campaign and the challenges Lewis Hamilton has faced during his first year in Ferrari colours.
Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton will also need strong support from Ferrari itself, which must provide him with a car capable of competing at the front if he is to return to fighting for top results. Without a competitive package, the situation could become even more complicated for both parties.
For now, all that remains is to wait and hope for a significantly better season than the one that is drawing to a close, with the expectation that 2026 can mark a turning point for Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari adventure.
