Lewis Hamilton served reality check but given new motive to race into his 40s

Lewis Hamilton’s latest contract conundrum may just have been solved for him following the latest revelation from Helmut Marko, who has stated that Ferrari, who have been courting the British driver’s signature this summer, are some way behind Mercedes and Red Bull in the 2026 power unit development race.

Reports circulated over the weekend that Hamilton had been personally contacted by the Ferrari hierarchy about a switch to represent the Scuderia for the 2024 season onwards. According to the report from QN Motori, Hamilton spoke with John Elkann about the team’s proposal but ‘politely declined’ their offer to join the team in Maranello.

In an interview with Motorsport-Total, Marko revealed that the seven-time world champion may have dodged a bullet in passing up Ferrari’s contract offer. The Austrian explained: “We are miles ahead of Audi, we are miles ahead of Ferrari, and Mercedes is about the same.”

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With a move to Ferrari now seemingly off the cards, Hamilton is set to renew his contract with Mercedes, and while no formal announcement has been made thus far, it is believed that the 38-year-old and the German manufacturer are extremely close to agreeing to new terms.

The only question remaining, therefore, is how long Hamilton’s renewal will be. The seven-time world champion is unlikely to agree to a one-year extension, so we’ll be looking at a minimum of two years, which would take his contract up until the end of the 2025 season and the current regulation period. 

Listening to Marko’s comments about how Mercedes’ 2026 power unit is on par with that of the Red Bull Powertrains operation, Hamilton could even target a three-year extension, allowing him to test out the first year of the new regulations. 

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Given the extent of Red Bull’s advantage compared to the rest of the field, it will be tough for the Silver Arrows to reign in the current Constructors’ Championship holders in the next two seasons, but the 2026 campaign offers a unique opportunity for Mercedes to reassert their dominance and set Hamilton on course for his coveted eight world title. 

A strong power unit builds the foundation for dominant eras, as seen by Mercedes’ first attempt at the turbo-hybrid engine in the 2010s. This remains Hamilton’s best shot at an eighth championship.

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