Fred Vasseur confirms the Lewis Hamilton news we all wanted ahead of Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton is going nowhere, as the Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has given the news we all wanted to hear.

This time last year, the writing was on the wall for Lewis Hamilton, with his debut season at Ferrari looking to be the end of the road for the seven-time world champion.

With Silverstone as his home race, some expected that if he was to ever call an end to his racing career, it would be done there, and the crowd waited with anxiety, knowing that retirement talk had ramped up.

Finishing fourth at Silverstone last season was one of his better results, only missing out on a podium to the hands of a wild Nico Hulkenberg race that landed the then Kick Sauber driver his first chance to stand on the raised platform after 262 attempts.

This year, Hamilton has been back to his best, earning podiums and winning races again, and the retirement rumour mill has gone silent.

So much so that Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has now confirmed the news that Lewis Hamilton will be back in the paddock next year, as the Italian side is building a championship-contending team.

Lewis Hamilton extends Ferrari contract for 2027 season

Having become a prominent figure back in the Formula 1 limelight, sharing it with new partner Kim Kardashian, Lewis Hamilton has reignited his love affair with racing.

In an interview with the Italian publication Corriere Della Sera, Fred Vasseur has now revealed that the transition from Mercedes was a much bigger adjustment for Hamilton than those like Sainz who have been at multiple teams and, now that they are on the same hymn sheet, Hamilton has extended his contract with Ferrari until 2027.

"Last year, I underestimated the magnitude of the transition from Mercedes to Ferrari," Vasseur said.

"Everything was new to him, and Lewis isn't one of those drivers who changes teams every two or three years, like Sainz. Now he knows the tools, the people, and our approach. And with the good results, he's entered a positive spiral."

Vasseur was then asked, "Will Hamilton stay in 2027?" to which he gave the simple answer of "yes."

Hamilton has a one-year extension clause in his contract, which takes him beyond the original two-year deal that he made after leaving Mercedes.

"It's not about making announcements, but simply about working: having the right spirit, the right tools, and the right people. And we're moving in that direction; we just need to stay focused," Vasseur added.

The announcement was supposed to be held back until Ferrari's home race at Monza, but the slip of the tongue from Vasseur means the news has arrived early.

As for Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari franchise man has also extended his stay in Rosso red, having penned a new 'multi-year' contract in June that keeps him in the hot seat until 2030.

Vasseur recognised Leclerc's tough opening to the current season, though, and says the team is working hard to get him back on track - the Monegasque driver had his 'dangerous' driving condemned by Ferrari, after he ignored team orders in the Barcelona Grand Prix.

"I'm close to him and trying to understand how to help him and why he's struggling."

"It's definitely not a question of speed: in qualifying in Monte Carlo and Barcelona he was fighting for pole, last week in Austria he started on the front row. He just has to put everything together over several laps, adapt to the new car, the latest updates, and the new brakes. And above all, he has to stay calm. I'm not worried at all. There are a thousand people helping him."