Lewis Hamilton may have a 'controversial' clause in his Ferrari contract that could leave the team powerless over his future, despite a challenging season for the Briton.
Hamilton signed a two-year deal with Ferrari at the start of the season, but he has struggled since leaving Mercedes.
And those difficulties continued this weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
After qualifying last on pure pace for the first time in his 19-year Formula 1 career, Hamilton was only able to salvage a tenth-place finish from the race.
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His teammate, Charles Leclerc, started ninth but drove well to claim fourth.
After the race, Hamilton admitted this season has been his 'worst ever' and confessed that he is "eager for the season to end."
However, when asked whether he would consider not completing the second year of his Ferrari contract, Hamilton shook his head.
It has now emerged that Hamilton may have the power to extend his contract into the 2027 season, regardless of his performance this year.
Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that there is a 'controversial' clause in the contract giving Hamilton the final say over his future, leaving Ferrari with minimal influence over whether he stays for 2027.
The Italian outlet suggests Ferrari agreed to the clause because of the significant commercial benefits Hamilton brings.
On the day his move to the team was announced, Ferrari's share price surged.
This season, Hamilton has yet to finish on the podium, with his only victory coming in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race back in March.
Despite that, the Briton will be hopeful that next year's regulation changes will bring about a change in fortunes.
Next year will see the most significant changes to Formula 1 regulations in several years, with changes to aerodynamics and the power units expected to shake up the grid.
Ferrari will hope the changes lead to an improvement in their car's performance, with the team currently sitting fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Hamilton and Leclerc are set to remain Ferrari's driver line-up barring any drastic moves, with the Monegasque driver contracted to the team until 2029.
The team has reportedly already begun succession planning for Hamilton.
Ollie Bearman, who has been a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022, has impressed in his first full-time Formula 1 season with Haas.
He has outperformed his experienced teammate Esteban Ocon and recently secured an impressive fourth place at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Briton will continue to develop at Haas, with Ferrari monitoring his progress as a potential replacement for Hamilton in the future.
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Formula 1, Charles Leclerc, Motorsport
James Taylor