A worrying update on Lewis Hamilton's future has emerged following a disastrous first season at Ferrari.
Hamilton signed his contract with the Scuderia ahead of the 2025 season, replacing Carlos Sainz Jr as the partner for Charles Leclerc after ending his spell with Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion called it a "childhood dream" to race for Ferrari but it has quickly become a nightmare for Hamilton, who has endured a season to forget.
In the main races, Hamilton has failed to secure a podium finish - with his only top three achievements coming in Sprint Races in China and Miami.
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The 40-year-old has taken 152 points to sit in sixth place in the overall drivers' rankings and has cut a frustrated figure throughout the campaign amid a series of disappointments.
The driver with the most pole positions in history, Hamilton started the Qatar Grand Prix in 17th position after poor performances in qualifying and the sprint, again expressing dejection.
Hamilton described his form as "terrible" but paid tribute to his fans, stating he is "incredibly grateful for the support” and “wouldn’t have made it through this year" without them.
The 2026 season, with the significant regulation changes, could give Hamilton the new lease of life he desperately needs next term.
However, a report from Motorsport Italia claims there are "legitimate questions" being asked about his future as a Ferrari driver.
It's stated that while "it was to be expected that Hamilton would struggle to adapt to the team", he has "become so withdrawn" and "unable to explain what he's going through".
The only saving grace is the regulation changes, which could make it more of a level playing field next term. The report added, "If Formula 1 weren't on the eve of the greatest technical revolution in its history, Lewis would likely have already made a definitive decision, but 2026 (on paper) offers everyone a chance for redemption. This is an unprecedented scenario that everyone who will be competing next season hopes to interpret as best they can.""
However, even with that being the case, the piece noted "there's also some concern in the Ferrari garage" - with "the performance gap between the two drivers seen in recent races" labelled "worrying".
It finished by stating that "if the season concludes with this trend, it will add another question mark to Maranello's 2026 agenda".
Hamilton's deal is said to be worth a whopping £41 million per year and is a multi-year arrangement.
The agreement between the two parties is believed to be a two-year deal, with Hamilton having the option to extend until 2027 and holding the power.
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Josh Lawless