Lewis Hamilton could remain with Ferrari through the 2028 Formula 1 season, with speculation ahead of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza suggesting that the Maranello team may soon provide an indication of its longer-term plans for the seven-time world champion. Such a decision would not only shape Hamilton’s Ferrari future but could also have significant consequences for Oliver Bearman’s route towards a seat with the Scuderia.
Hamilton’s current agreement already provides a route for the partnership to continue into 2027. However, reporting attributed to Emily Madic of Auto Motor und Sport and relayed by Nextgen-Auto indicates that Ferrari is considering extending the relationship beyond that point and keeping the British driver for 2028. Monza has emerged as a possible setting for an announcement, although no extension through 2028 has been officially confirmed.
Lewis Hamilton Ferrari contract could extend through 2028
Hamilton will be 41 during the 2026 season, but his age is not currently being presented as an obstacle to a longer stay at Maranello. If Ferrari chooses to retain him for another two seasons beyond 2026, the decision would have implications well beyond the seven-time world champion himself.
One of Formula 1’s most desirable seats would effectively be removed from the driver market for another year, reducing the opportunities available to younger drivers hoping to graduate into Ferrari’s senior team. The situation is particularly relevant to Oliver Bearman, who has long been considered one of the leading candidates to make that transition in the future.
The wider importance of long-term agreements at the front of the grid has become increasingly apparent as several leading drivers commit their futures to established teams, a trend examined in our analysis of Formula 1 driver contracts and long-term stability.
Oliver Bearman could face a difficult decision over Ferrari future
Bearman’s connection with the Scuderia goes back through the Ferrari Driver Academy, and his path towards the Formula 1 team appeared particularly significant when he was called upon to replace Carlos Sainz at short notice in 2024. That appearance gave the young British driver an early opportunity to race for Ferrari before securing a regular place on the Formula 1 grid.
The complication is the timing of any future vacancy at Maranello. The reports surrounding Bearman indicate that his association with Ferrari could extend only through 2027. If Hamilton remains in place for 2028 and Ferrari’s second seat is also unavailable, Bearman could be forced to decide whether continuing to wait represents the best option for his career.
Speaking recently on Beyond The Grid, Bearman reaffirmed that becoming a Ferrari driver remains his ambition. However, he also made clear that he would not be prepared to wait three, four or five years for an opportunity that might never materialise, particularly if doing so meant sacrificing important seasons of his career. Bearman acknowledged that if Ferrari ultimately could not offer him a seat, he would have to accept the possibility of pursuing a different path.
Why 2028 could become decisive for Oliver Bearman
A Hamilton extension would therefore create an important crossroads in Ferrari’s driver planning. Retaining a seven-time world champion would provide continuity and experience, while leaving fewer immediate opportunities for one of the most prominent talents to emerge through the Scuderia’s junior programme.
Bearman could consequently become an important figure in a future Formula 1 driver market. If Ferrari does not have space available by 2028, he may need to examine alternatives outside both Haas and the Maranello development route rather than waiting indefinitely for one of the two Ferrari seats to become vacant.
For Ferrari, the decision would involve balancing different timescales. Hamilton’s experience and value to the current project would have to be considered alongside the challenge of providing a realistic progression route for younger drivers being developed for the future. More developments surrounding the seven-time world champion can be followed in our Lewis Hamilton Ferrari news archive.
Nothing regarding a Ferrari deal through 2028 has yet been officially confirmed. Nevertheless, the build-up to Monza could offer a clearer indication of Hamilton’s long-term position at Maranello, and any decision on his future would inevitably influence how Bearman assesses his own opportunities beyond 2027.
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