Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to the Maranello team before the start of the season was arguably the most talked-about driver move in modern Formula 1 history, marking the beginning of a new era for both the seven-time world champion and the Scuderia.
Normally, high-profile signings in the Formula 1 driver market are confirmed during the summer break of the previous season. Ironically, since the Hungarian Grand Prix, the sport has entered several weeks of silence when it comes to major transfer news. Yet the repercussions of Hamilton’s decision continue to dominate the headlines.
Elsewhere in the paddock, Valtteri Bottas seems close to securing a seat with Cadillac for the coming season, while Mercedes look set to continue with George Russell and rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli’s rapid rise to the grid was only made possible because Hamilton had already decided, before the 2024 campaign even began, that he would walk away from Mercedes and commit to Ferrari for 2025.
The Briton’s farewell year with Mercedes was not straightforward. The team struggled for consistency, leaving Hamilton without the send-off he might have wished for. At the same time, he witnessed Ferrari push their development programme to the point of nearly toppling McLaren in the constructors’ championship. This progress was enough to convince him that Maranello was serious about returning to the top.
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur was openly enthusiastic about the prospect of working with Hamilton again, but the partnership has not unfolded as smoothly as many expected. Italian journalist and writer Leo Turrini suggested that Ferrari had made commitments to Hamilton that have not yet been honoured during this opening phase of their collaboration.
For the Scuderia, there may only be a limited window left to prove themselves to the British superstar before he considers retirement from the sport altogether. At 40 years of age, Hamilton is already approaching the twilight of his Formula 1 career, and the promise of a truly competitive car was a decisive factor in luring him to Maranello.
Ferrari’s unfulfilled pledge to Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton’s contract includes an option to extend his stay with Ferrari until 2027, but much will depend on whether he believes the team can genuinely provide him with a race-winning package. Remaining in Formula 1 without the realistic chance of fighting for victories and championships is a dilemma he may soon face.
During a recent Sky Race Anatomy programme, Turrini reflected on Hamilton’s adjustment to life in Italy and his struggles with the SF-25. The journalist noted that the 40-year-old driver expected far more from Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, only to find that the extensive design overhaul had not produced the step forward everyone inside Maranello had hoped for.
Ferrari made radical changes to the car compared to the version driven in 2024 by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Instead of providing Hamilton with the competitive edge he was seeking, the new concept appears to have introduced fresh difficulties. According to Leo Turrini, Hamilton had not been tempted to Ferrari with unrealistic promises of star engineers like Adrian Newey, but rather with assurances of a machine capable of fighting at the sharp end of the grid. He placed his faith in Vasseur, who had once mentored him in his early years, and without the Frenchman’s presence in Maranello, Hamilton might never have agreed to make the switch.
Charles Leclerc’s situation is somewhat different. The Monegasque driver has tied his long-term hopes to Ferrari since joining as a teenager, demonstrating remarkable loyalty. The Italian journalist argued that if Charles Leclerc fails to achieve his world championship dream with the Scuderia, he may eventually look for opportunities elsewhere.
A career likely to end in red
Even though Fernando Alonso has shown with Aston Martin that a Formula 1 career can extend deep into a driver’s forties, Hamilton is unlikely to continue indefinitely. If he takes up the option in his Ferrari contract, he will need to commit beyond 2027, but his motivation remains firmly tied to chasing success with the Italian team.
The general expectation in the paddock is that Lewis Hamilton will conclude his Formula 1 career as a Ferrari driver. Despite still being one of the biggest names in global sport, his decision to keep racing is primarily driven by the ambition of adding to his legendary record with the Scuderia.
Meanwhile, speculation is already growing about who could eventually replace him. Speaking in a recent interview, commentator Alex Jacques suggested that one driver in particular is well-positioned to step into Hamilton’s seat when the time comes. For now, however, such discussions are unlikely to be welcomed by Hamilton himself, nor by Fred Vasseur, who knows that keeping his star driver fully motivated is crucial if Ferrari want to finally deliver on their long-standing promise.
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