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Lewis Hamilton is at risk of being replaced before the end of his Ferrari contract. Hamilton’s deal runs until the end of 2027, but the team are unlikely to tolerate a repeat of 2025.
Hamilton contributed just under 40% of Ferrari’s total points, but teammate Charles Leclerc scored all seven of their podiums. Leclerc scored at the rate required to finish P2 in the constructors’ championship, but the Scuderia ultimately finished fourth.
It’s believed that Hamilton’s contract contains release clauses, which is likely the case for every driver ahead of a major rules reset in 2026. For the first time in his F1 career, he goes into a year knowing he could lose his seat.
Double Charles Leclerc’s points tally and Ferrari would be second in the constructors’ championship
Do they need to move on from Lewis Hamilton?
Oliver Bearman is the favourite to replace Hamilton given his ties to the Ferrari academy. But the team may also pursue another superstar driver.
Christijan Albers says Max Verstappen would give Ferrari free lap time
It emerged during the autumn that Max Verstappen is considering a move to Ferrari for the 2027 season, depending on their performance relative to Red Bull under the new regulations. Verstappen could effectively have his pick of teams if he exercises his exit clause.
F1 pundit Christijan Albers is confident Ferrari could afford Verstappen. Hamilton makes around £55m per year, so shedding his salary would free up the necessary funds.
While it’s extremely difficult to unlock four-tenths of a second from a car concept, Albers says Ferrari would immediately gain that kind of lap time by replacing an ageing Hamilton with Verstappen.
He also thinks the sport’s best engineering minds would flock to Maranello to work with the driver many regard as the best on the grid.
Is Oliver Bearman the right choice to fill the next empty race seat at Ferrari?
Who should Ferrari be trying to sign? Answer in the comments!
“There’s a good chance that, if Ferrari wants to do something, they might still be able to make a move in 2027,” Albers told Telesport. “Hamilton is in the same range of salary, so they wouldn’t be shocked by that. They really do have deep pockets.
“They also know that there is the possibility to gain three, four-tenths. You buy him, you buy three, four-tenths extra speed on paper. That’s nice. Try finding that in a car – you don’t.
“You also have that attraction for engineers, designers. They all want to work with a world champion.”
Max Verstappen would love to be Charles Leclerc’s teammate
Ferrari’s top priority heading into 2027 will be to keep Leclerc, who has demonstrated his value this year. The only way they can convince him to recommit is by delivering a contending package in 2026.
And that, in turn, would make them an attractive option to Verstappen should Red Bull, about to debut their first F1 engine, fall below his standards.
It’s said that Verstappen has a ‘deep respect’ for Leclerc, having raced against him as a junior.
In fact, Isack Hadjar has noticed that Verstappen gives Leclerc more space when they go head-to-head on track.
Ferrari, then, could form perhaps the strongest pairing on the F1 grid without compromising the harmony in the garage.
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