The Lewis Hamilton contract circus has arrived in familiar territory: plenty of noise, plenty of speculation – and a Ferrari boss refusing to dance to anyone else’s tune.
Fred Vasseur has pushed back against reports suggesting Hamilton is already preparing to trigger an option that would keep him at Ferrari beyond the 2026 Formula 1 season, making it clear that any discussions over the seven-time world champion’s future will happen privately, not through the media spotlight.
With Italian media claiming Hamilton was ready to activate his side of a contract extension clause, Vasseur was quick to put the brakes on the speculation ahead of the British Grand Prix.
Asked whether talks had already begun over a fresh deal, the Ferrari team principal delivered a pointed response:
“Who spoke about the extension? I will discuss with him for the extension, not everybody,” he said. “He is still under contract with us and now is not the time to discuss about an extension.”
The message from Maranello was unmistakable: Ferrari will decide when the Hamilton conversation takes place – and it will not be dictated by outside chatter.
The contract debate comes against the backdrop of a complicated opening chapter in Hamilton’s Ferrari career.
After joining the Scuderia with huge expectations, the Briton endured a frustrating start to 2025, failing to register a Grand Prix podium for the first time in his career before finally breaking through with victory in Barcelona.
That win, combined with his other strong results, has helped reshape the narrative around his Ferrari move. Hamilton now has five podium finishes with the team, having previously managed only a sprint victory in China during a difficult opening phase.
The original agreement is understood to cover the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with an option extending into 2027.
But Hamilton has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that retirement is approaching, insisting his motivation remains as strong as ever.
Speaking at the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this year, he said:
“There’s a lot of people that are trying to retire me. That’s not even on my thoughts,” he said.
“I’m already thinking of what will be next and planning for like the next five years, but I still plan to be here for some time. I’m still in contract, so everything’s 100 per cent clear to me.
“I still love what I do with all my heart and I’m going to be here for quite some time, so get used to it.”
Read also:
The Hamilton-Ferrari alliance remains one of Formula 1’s biggest stories, but Vasseur has no intention of allowing the paddock noise to dictate the team’s timeline.
While questions over the Briton’s long-term future will continue to swirl, Ferrari’s priority is extracting performance from its star signing before opening the next contract chapter.
For now, Hamilton’s seat remains his—and the conversation can wait.
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