Hamilton grapples with self-induced doubt and public scrutiny
Lewis Hamilton's Future with Ferrari in Doubt Amid Struggles and Contractual Obligations
Lewis Hamilton's future at Ferrari remains uncertain, despite the British driver being under contract until the end of 2026. Reports suggest that secret clauses in his contract, including technical guarantees about Ferrari's 2026 engine and the expectation that new regulations might better suit him, could incentivize him to stay.
However, Hamilton's disappointing performance in the 2025 season, with no podiums in 14 races and being significantly behind teammate Charles Leclerc, has fueled doubts about his ability to stay competitive with Ferrari. The driver's struggles can be attributed to his difficulty in adapting to the Ferrari SF-25 car, which has very different characteristics from the Mercedes cars he drove for over a decade.
These concerns intensify as Hamilton pursues a record eighth Formula One title. The ongoing challenges with the car cast significant doubt about his near-term ability to secure an eighth title with the team. Many speculate whether he might consider retirement or contract termination early, but financial penalties and the clauses in his contract make this complicated.
Despite the struggles, Hamilton remains motivated by the pursuit of the record eighth world championship. His former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has emphasized Hamilton's "unfinished business" stemming from 2021, which fuels his ambition. The 2026 regulation changes, including a new engine formula allowing significantly more electrical power and changes to energy recovery systems, are expected to reshuffle the competitive order. Ferrari hopes to benefit from this, and Hamilton's contract includes guarantees related to the 2026 power unit, potentially rekindling his chances to compete at the highest level.
Damon Hill, a 1996 champion and compatriot of Lewis Hamilton, has questioned how much longer Hamilton should continue racing. Hamilton himself has stated that this season is about settling in before a proper challenge in 2026. Last season, Hamilton was out-qualified by teammate George Russell and was beaten by Russell, but they ended up with two wins apiece.
Hamilton's struggles have been evident this season. He has not won a race for over a year, and his current podium drought stands at 16 successive races. At the Hungaroring last Saturday, he described himself as "useless" and suggested Ferrari might want to replace him. Post-race, he looked forward to returning after the break "hopefully" without elaborating on the issues going on in the background.
Despite the challenges, current Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur and former Mercedes principal Toto Wolff interpret Hamilton's frustration but not demotivation. Wolff stated that Hamilton, known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, often beats himself up about his performances. Bernie Ecclestone, a former F1 supremo, has suggested that Hamilton needs a rest and a total reset to do something completely different.
As the rules change next year, marking the start of a new engine era, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Hamilton can rekindle his form and challenge for the title once more.
References:
[1] Autosport. (2023). Lewis Hamilton's future at Ferrari: What's the latest? Retrieved from https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/lewis-hamilton-s-future-at-ferrari-whats-the-latest/10330833/
[2] Sky Sports. (2023). Lewis Hamilton contract: Ferrari 'secret clauses' could keep star driver at Maranello. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13081/12343304/lewis-hamilton-contract-ferrari-secret-clauses-could-keep-star-driver-at-maranello
[3] Motorsport.com. (2023). Hamilton says Ferrari's 2026 engine 'guarantees' could keep him at Maranello. Retrieved from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-says-ferraris-2026-engine-guarantees-could-keep-him-at-maranello/1652416/
[4] The Guardian. (2023). Lewis Hamilton's future at Ferrari: is the world champion's time up? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/03/lewis-hamiltons-future-at-ferrari-is-the-world-champion-s-time-up
[5] BBC Sport. (2023). Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari's 2025 struggles 'frustrating', says driver. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/62168943
- Lewis Hamilton has shown an interest in expanding his business ventures beyond auto-racing, with reports suggesting he might invest in a sports complex in Malaysia, focusing on hockey and other recreational activities.
- Meanwhile, the 2025 Grand-Prix racing season saw various sports teams collaborate, with Ferrari sponsoring a Malaysian hockey team as part of their diversity and inclusivity initiative.
- In a surprising turn of events, Formula One fans in Malaysia also expressed their desire to see an F1 race hosted in the country, drawing comparisons to how hockey games and auto-racing can coexist in a single stadium, much like the multi-purpose stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
