Ferrari announced the arrival of Lewis Hamilton and that was when the F1 world was left in shock. Fans didn’t really expect Hamilton to leave Mercedes, a team where he truly cemented his status as a legend of the sport. It was after a couple of tough years that Hamilton left Mercedes, and he certainly left them in a better place.
But unfortunately for Hamilton, things have not gone according to plan with the Italian team as well. He is still on the hunt for his first podium with Ferrari, and is lagging behind teammate Charles Leclerc as well. His recent struggles have left his F1 future in question, which has brought his contract into the spotlight.
Lewis Hamilton reportedly has a clause to decide his Ferrari future
Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport recently reported that Hamilton has a clause that will help him determine his future, via F1-Insider. The report mentions that the 7-time champion has signed a two-year deal with Ferrari, and whether he chooses to stay or leave is entirely up to him.
This will be a major advantage for Hamilton, who might have the leverage to choose his next destination. He could also stay with Ferrari regardless of the results. However, this is a report. Only the team or the driver can confirm the accuracy of these rumors.
Hamilton has been pretty poor during the first half of the season, especially in qualifying. But the British driver has proven brilliance on multiple occasions by bringing home crucial points in the race. He seems to be unhappy, even calling himself ‘useless.’
Ferrari has also not been great with Charles Leclerc either. The Monegasque lost what could’ve been a win at the Hungarian GP. Leclerc later explained that his car had a chassis issue, causing him to lose all the pace he had during the first half of the race and the qualifying session when he landed pole position.
Hamilton makes feelings clear on Ferrari’s title chances
Despite having only 109 points in the Drivers’ standings this year, Hamilton has proven his class on many occasions. The most recent example was when he managed to make up important places at the Belgian GP. After failing to make it into Q3, Hamilton started at P16 at Spa.
Lewis Hamilton Faces Unwanted Ferrari Record as Ferrari Boss Shifts Focus to Charles Leclerc
When all odds were stacked against him, the legend managed to land a P7 finish after pitting earlier than most of the grid. He showed that he still has what it takes, provided Ferrari produces a championship-level car.
Hamilton has no doubts that Ferrari can contend for the title eventually. He said to media before the Hungarian GP, “The team has every ingredient that they need to win World Championships. It’s literally just about getting things all aligned and running smoothly and freely, stress-free, which we’re all trying to do.”
Ferrari’s strategy has come under major criticism by fans, and it certainly is a crucial aspect they need to improve on as well. It will be interesting to see how Fred Vasseur leads them after the summer break, and whether they improve on their performances toward the end of the season.
