Lewis Hamilton has dismissed Ferrari exit rumours as he disclosed he has a “pretty long” commitment with the Scuderia, despite a largely disappointing Formula 1 campaign.
The widespread rumours claim the seven-time World Champion may not continue racing for the Italian automaker beyond the 2026 F1 season as he faces one of the toughest years in his illustrious career, marking his first season away from Mercedes after over a decade of success.
Hamilton’s response firmly put an end to speculation about an early Ferrari exit while shedding light on the multi-year contract that governs his stay at the iconic Italian team.
His debut season with Ferrari has fallen well short of the high expectations many had when he made the blockbuster move from Mercedes.
The partnership was meant to rejuvenate Hamilton’s career and add new chapters to his championship legacy, but it has instead been characterized by a string of frustrations.
The 40-year old is yet to secure a podium finish in his debut Ferrari year, setting an unwanted record of 20 consecutive Grand Prix without a podium—the longest such streak in Ferrari’s history—with his inconsistent on-track performances reflecting struggles adapting to the SF-25 car.
While Hamilton’s sprint race victory in China gave some hope of improvement, he has faced performance issues ever since with occasional flashes of performance helping him hold onto sixth in the current F1 drivers’ championship standings, a blistering 64 points behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
This has led to speculation about his F1 future – and whether he could be replaced next year amid a solid Ferrari contract.
Oscar Piastri has been rumoured to be interested in driving for the team in 2027, while Ferrari junior Olliver Bearman has impressed in his rookie season leading to suggestions that he could replace Hamilton at some point.
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Hamilton’s public remarks during the lead-up to the Brazilian Grand Prix were clear and diplomatic.
While acknowledging the difficult season, Hamilton dismissed Ferrari exit rumours by confirming his contract details: “So normally when you do a contract, it’s usually the year before you start to talk about it.
“I mean, I have a pretty long contract. So, I’m a little bit far from that [negotiating a new deal] right now.”
After years of spectacular earnings at Mercedes—where he reportedly earned around $55 million in 2024—Hamilton’s multi-year deal with Ferrari is believed to be of similar worth or even higher, estimated between $50 -$55 million annually, though exact currency figures remain undisclosed.
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Lewis Hamilton also praised Oliver Bearman for claiming Haas best ever result in history after finishing fourth in Mexico.
The British driver has continued to impress in his rookie F1 campaign, out-performing experienced teammate Esteban Ocon.
“I think it was amazing,“ Hamilton added. “I was so happy for him. But also, his first race, just the progress he’s been making.
“Again, a really nice lad. Great approach, very approachable, and I think he did a phenomenal job there. I think they’ve been doing a great job over the course of the year.
“They’ve obviously developed really well as well. I’m really excited to see his future.”
