Lewis Hamilton ‘going to leave’ Ferrari as ‘risky’ statement made by…read more
Former Formula 1 driver Jaime Alguersuari has voiced a bold prediction that Lewis Hamilton might not stay with Ferrari long-term, despite joining the Italian team in a highly publicized move from Mercedes. According to Alguersuari, Ferrari’s inability to deliver consistent, race-winning performance may lead the seven-time World Champion to walk away before his contract ends.
Hamilton, who signed with Ferrari through the 2026 season, has had a mixed start with the team. Though he clinched a win in the China Sprint race, he has yet to outperform his team-mate Charles Leclerc in a grand prix. Notably, in early-season qualifying sessions such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Hamilton trailed Leclerc by significant margins—six-tenths and half a second respectively—fueling concerns about the car’s performance and setup.
In several interviews, Hamilton has sounded discouraged, stating there’s “no fix” to his current performance woes and predicting a “painful” season ahead. These comments have only intensified speculation about his long-term commitment to Ferrari.
Alguersuari, who raced with Toro Rosso (now known as Visa Cash App RB) between 2009 and 2011, shared his perspective during an appearance on ‘The After Lap Podcast.’ He said, “I have the feeling that Hamilton is going to leave. I don’t know why—I’m taking a risk by saying this—but I think he feels his time has passed. He’s already achieved everything, and now he’s gone to Ferrari to see what might happen by 2026.”
He went on to criticize Ferrari’s current competitiveness, distinguishing between being “competitive” and truly being a “winning team.” “Ferrari is not a winning team. Yes, they can win races here and there, but they haven’t been a title-winning team since 2008,” Alguersuari stated bluntly. That year, Ferrari secured the Constructors’ Championship, while Kimi Räikkönen remains their last Drivers’ Champion, having won the title in 2007.
Despite the mounting pressure and underwhelming results, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has voiced his full support for Hamilton. The two share a longstanding relationship, dating back to Hamilton’s early racing years when Vasseur managed him in Formula 3 and GP2—series in which Hamilton took home titles under Vasseur’s leadership.
Following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Vasseur reaffirmed his faith in Hamilton, saying, “I will be 2,000 percent behind him. We’ll start working immediately to find solutions and improve performance. I’m not too worried. If you look at his pace in China or the Bahrain race, or even earlier sessions this weekend, the potential is clearly there.”
Still, doubts remain about whether Ferrari can deliver the level of performance Hamilton is seeking in his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth World Championship. As speculation grows, only time will tell if Hamilton’s gamble with Ferrari will pay off—or if it will lead to
an early exit.
