Martin Brundle has claimed Lewis Hamilton has a driver’s option in his Ferrari contract for the 2028 F1 season.
The seven-time drivers’ champion’s current deal runs through to the end of 2027, and the existence of the clause in his favour was not previously known.
Since he joined the Scuderia last year, there has been considerable noise surrounding his F1 future, with numerous high-profile names calling on him to retire.
However, despite a poor first campaign with the Italian team, the 41-year-old has bounced back. He secured his first podium for the Maranello-based squad at the Chinese Grand Prix and looks significantly more at home in the current generation of cars.
He has also cut a noticeably more content figure after the dismay and dejection of last year, when he would publicly chastise himself for his lack of performance.
“He certainly enjoys these cars much more than the ground effect cars we had for four seasons,” Brundle said on Sky Sports F1.
“So he looks more comfortable, he looks happier. Just looking at him, there’s definitely a spring in Lewis’ step that we haven’t seen for a year or two. But across the garage, you’ve got Charles Leclerc, who’s on great form.”
Brundle, who helped the Briton early in his career, was reflecting on Hamilton addressing his critics during the FIA press conference on media day at the Canadian Grand Prix, where the Ferrari driver was forthright in emphatically stating that he is not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
And if the former F1 driver is correct about the provision in Hamilton’s contract, the 105-time grand prix winner will be able to race for the Scuderia for a fourth season.
He added: “But my understanding is Lewis has a unilateral option in his favour for 2028 as well, if he wants to stay at Ferrari, so I think what he’s saying is…
“Because there have been a few people saying he should retire, that he’s got to go — that’s what he’s responding to.
“And basically… Lewis, that’s what he does, isn’t it? He knits in all the extracurricular stuff so well with being a Formula 1 driver, he loves his fashion and charitable foundation, and what have you. So Lewis is in a great place; he’s not going to walk away from that unless he has to.”
