What was meant to be the greatest union in Formula 1 history — Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari — is rapidly turning into a disaster of epic proportions. After 20 races with the Scuderia, Hamilton’s dream of bringing Ferrari back to glory has collapsed under the weight of expectations, leaving both sides questioning whether this partnership was ever meant to be.
The numbers paint a grim picture. Hamilton has yet to score a single podium finish in his debut season with Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc has carried the team with seven podiums and a commanding 64-point lead. For a seven-time world champion once considered untouchable, the sight of him languishing in the midfield has stunned fans and pundits alike.
According to multiple reports — including insider information from ESPN — Ferrari’s top management is already preparing for life after Hamilton. Sources claim that the team does not intend to extend his contract beyond 2026, despite the original plan to make him a central figure in their long-term vision. Instead, attention has shifted to Oliver Bearman, the 19-year-old prodigy who shocked the F1 world with a fourth-place finish at the Mexico Grand Prix. Within Maranello’s walls, whispers are growing louder: Bearman could be Ferrari’s future, not Hamilton.
Hamilton, for his part, has tried to remain composed. In a tense post-race interview, he urged fans and critics alike to be patient, saying,
“Rome wasn’t built in a day — and neither is a winning car.”
But behind closed doors, morale appears to be deteriorating. Team insiders have described the atmosphere between Hamilton and Leclerc as “professional but cold”, with both drivers frustrated by Ferrari’s inconsistent performance and technical missteps.
To make matters even more complicated, Hamilton’s contract includes an option for a third year, which he can trigger — even if Ferrari prefers to part ways. That clause has thrown Ferrari into turmoil. If Hamilton decides to stay, the team would be obliged to keep him through 2027, potentially delaying Bearman’s full-time promotion and creating a major political rift inside the team.
The timing couldn’t be worse. With the 2026 technical regulation overhaul on the horizon — new power units, fuel systems, and aerodynamic concepts — both Hamilton and Ferrari are standing on the edge of a cliff. Ferrari must build a car capable of competing with Red Bull and McLaren, while Hamilton must rediscover the fire that once made him unstoppable.
What began as a fairy tale — the greatest driver of his generation joining the most iconic team in racing — has morphed into a high-stakes standoff. The question now isn’t whether Hamilton can win a title with Ferrari, but whether this marriage of legends can survive long enough to see out its second year.
One thing is certain: if things don’t change fast, the Lewis Hamilton–Ferrari experiment could become the biggest flop in modern F1 history.
