Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari actuality as ‘senior figures’ make contract stance
Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about his underwhelming start to life at Ferrari as the seven-time world champion sees speculation surrounding his future mount
Lewis Hamilton has hit back after his underwhelming start to life at Ferrari as rumours surrounding his future swirl.
The 40-year-old switched to the team from Mercedes before the 2025 season started, but he sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship after 20 races this season, picking up 146 points so far. Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc is 64 points clear in fifth, whilst Mercedes driver George Russell (258), Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (321), and McLaren pair Oscar Piastri (356) and Lando Norris (357) occupy the top four positions.
With Hamilton battling for form, claims emerged earlier this week suggesting the seven-time world champion is unlikely to receive a new contract when his current Ferrari deal expires.
The multi-year contract that Hamilton, who hasn’t managed a podium finish for his new team, signed to join Ferrari in early 2024 is expected to run until the end of next season.
Nevertheless, it was reported earlier this year that Hamilton’s contract might include a personal clause to extend his arrangement until the end of 2027, should he choose, leaving Ferrari with minimal influence over the decision. Speaking to in-house publication Ferrari Magazine, Hamilton has mounted a robust defence of his challenging start at the Italian outfit.
When questioned whether he expected his Ferrari move would prove so significant, Hamilton acknowledged there’s room for improvement going forward. He stated: “I knew that aligning our brands would be big.
“But it still hits you and you’re like: ‘This is even more powerful than I imagined.’ It’s beautiful and there have been plenty of positives, although a lot of responsibility and weight comes with it.
“Everyone expects to win straight away, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. How long did it take? We’ll have to look that up.”
When asked about F1 fans understanding that it takes time to settle and win, Hamilton responded: “Only when you’re inside a team can you really, truly understand how it works and how F1 works. You can’t imagine how the machine really operates otherwise.
“I’ve been in F1 for so long, but when I came to this team it really was different again. So I don’t blame people for not knowing. All I can do is continue to focus on the things that I can control. How I prepare and work with the team. How I show up each day and stay positive.”
While Hamilton may have the option to extend his contract until 2027, it was reported earlier this week that ‘several senior figures’ have suggested that the Stevenage-born driver will not be offered a contract extension by Ferrari at the end of his current deal.
Hamilton’s comments come after former Mercedes team-mate George Russell was linked with a potential move to Ferrari in the future. A report in Italy has claimed that Russell is ‘highly regarded’ by Ferrari’s senior management.
