Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, right, may may have to start preparing to welcome a new teammate with Lewis Hamilton increasingly set for an exit and retirement.
Should Lewis Hamilton enjoy some level of success — or even win a single race this season, then he might sign an extension on his contract at Ferrari.
When Lewis Hamilton made the blockbuster switch to Ferrari, the expectation was simple: deliver the Scuderia's first Formula One world championship since 2007 and add an unprecedented eighth title to his own glittering career.
Now, a few months into the second year of the partnership, the next chapter of Hamilton's Ferrari story could depend entirely on what happens during the 2026 season.
The seven-time world champion signed an initial two-year agreement with Ferrari, a deal that runs until the end of this year. However, the contract reportedly includes an option for Hamilton to extend his stay by a further season, keeping him in red until the conclusion of the 2027 campaign.
