Outlets have been describing Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari contract extension in rather different terms. On 2 September GPFans ran the headline "Hamilton signs Ferrari extension", yet the article itself said it was "expected to be announced to coincide with the Monza weekend" – and Monza has come and gone. As of 23 September we could find no official announcement from Ferrari. His place for 2027, however, was already "confirmed" by team principal Frédéric Vasseur in July.
Credibility: medium — First reported by: the "announcement just before Monza" timing came from Spanish journalist Carlos Miquel on COPE radio's El Partidazo (20 August); confirmation that he stays for 2027 came from Vasseur in an interview with Corriere della Sera (early July). Picked up by: GPFans, MotorBiscuit/Yahoo Sports, F1 Oversteer, PlanetF1, Auto Hebdo and others. Response: Vasseur said "in 2027 Hamilton is a Ferrari driver" (partial acknowledgement), and on any extension beyond that, "now is not the time". In one line: the team principal has publicly acknowledged the 2027 option being taken up, but there is no official basis for any 'signing' or 'announcement'.
The contract: 2+1, with the option in Hamilton's hands
According to PlanetF1 (Oliver Harden, 9 July), Hamilton's original deal covers the 2025 and 2026 seasons with an option for 2027, and that option is understood to be exercisable by Hamilton alone. Asked at the Canadian GP whether he would still be at Ferrari in 2027, Hamilton answered "100%". On 3 July Vasseur told Corriere della Sera, "I can confirm that Lewis Hamilton will be a Ferrari driver in 2027," as reported by Auto Hebdo (Mathieu Chambenoit) and GPFans (Sam Cook). A few days later, though, PlanetF1 quoted Vasseur as saying: "Who talked about an extension? An extension is something I discuss with him, not with everyone. He is still under contract with us and now is not the time to discuss an extension." That reads as the 2027 option and any new extension beyond it being two separate matters.
The 'just before Monza' announcement never came
On 20 August GPFans (Graham Shaw) reported Miquel as saying, "Mark it in your calendar. The announcement will come just before Monza," on the same day Max Verstappen's Red Bull extension to 2030 was announced. The following day F1 Oversteer wrote that Miquel's claim tallied with reporting from Eurosport Italy and that the final year of the 2+1 would be taken up, while MotorBiscuit said "the official announcement will come just before the Italian GP on 6 September" but added the caveat that "neither Ferrari nor Hamilton's camp has confirmed it". The 2 September GPFans article put 'signs' in its headline, but its body said "the announcement is expected to coincide with the Italian GP weekend". At the FIA's Thursday press conference at Monza on 3 September, however, Hamilton was not asked about his contract, and GPFans' Monza news round-up on 4 September contained no contract announcement. TheJudge13 had also written on 31 August that "Monza is the likely stage for an announcement, but there is no official confirmation". To date, no official Ferrari statement can be found.
Where this leaves us
Hamilton staying at Ferrari in 2027 is as good as settled, since Vasseur has acknowledged it publicly. Reports that he has 'signed a new extension' or that it 'will be announced at Monza', on the other hand, have yet to be borne out by an official announcement. Things have moved on in the meantime. When GPFans wrote its piece on 20 August Hamilton was second in the championship, 50 points behind Kimi Antonelli; according to the Associated Press, after his retirement in Madrid he is third and 101 points adrift. Charles Leclerc signed a new contract in June, according to GPFans. With the Italian press criticising Vasseur and reports of tension inside the team continuing, it remains to be seen whether Ferrari has anything to announce in Baku this week.
Sources
- GPFans — Lewis Hamilton signs Ferrari extension and three other F1 silly season moves
- GPFans — F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Ferrari contract extension is imminent - 'Mark your calendars'
- F1 Oversteer — Ferrari set to announce Lewis Hamilton contract extension after Max Verstappen's new deal
- Yahoo Sports(MotorBiscuit) — Lewis Hamilton Reportedly Renews Ferrari Contract Ahead of Monza
- PlanetF1 — Lewis Hamilton update as Fred Vasseur addresses latest contract rumours
- PlanetF1 — F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the F1 2026 grid?
- AutoHebdo — Frédéric Vasseur confirme que Lewis Hamilton sera un pilote Ferrari en 2027
- GPFans — Ferrari F1 chief Fred Vasseur reveals Lewis Hamilton's 2027 team
- FIA — F1 2026 Italian Grand Prix, Thursday Press Conference Transcript
- TheJudge13 — Ferrari prepares for Lewis Hamilton contract decision ahead of Monza