Ferrari are watching another F1 superstar in case Lewis Hamilton ‘cannot justify the hype’

Lewis Hamilton signed his Ferrari contract nearly one year ago. And yet, the exact length of the agreement still isn’t known.

The prevailing theory has been that Hamilton penned a two-year deal, with an option for 2027 if both parties were satisfied. He’s just turned 40, so this is likely to be the last significant contract of his F1 career.

But there are now suggestions that Ferrari have given Hamilton three years at the outset. Fred Vasseur may have had some private doubts after seeing his performances in 2024.

Hamilton only beat teammate George Russell 12 times last year (excluding Sprints). The former Williams driver prevailed on 32 occasions across qualifying and the race.

According to his father Anthony, Hamilton has trained like ‘mad’ over the winter as he tries to return to his best. He apparently arrives at Ferrari with renewed focus and motivation.

But it’s only sensible for the Scuderia to draw up a contingency plan in case the fairytale Hamilton move doesn’t work. And it seems they have an outside chance of landing another superstar.

Ferrari could move for Max Verstappen if Lewis Hamilton struggles

According to F1-Insider, title holder Max Verstappen can effectively ‘choose’ his destination if he leaves Red Bull. He’d ideally like to stay in Milton Keynes, but he will only do so if they continue to deliver contending cars.

Red Bull forced Verstappen to cling on last year as they surrendered their car advantage and fell behind McLaren and Ferrari. And there’s uncertainty around the team’s long-term prospects as they set up their own powertrains division for the 2026 regulation changes.

Mercedes and Aston Martin have both expressed an interest in the four-time world champion already. The Silver Arrows would have to axe either Russell or recent academy graduate Kimi Antonelli, while Verstappen would be a logical successor to Fernando Alonso at Aston.

But the report states that Ferrari ‘could be an alternative’. Fans believe Hamilton and Leclerc form F1’s best line-up, but Vasseur may have a blockbuster plan-b if his newest signing ‘cannot justify the hype’.

What Max Verstappen has said about racing for Ferrari during F1 career

Verstappen would be wise to wait until 2026, when he will have a full picture of the new competitive order. It’s hard to imagine any team saying no to a driver who’s already established himself as an all-time great.

There’s a scenario where Hamilton sees out his first two years at Ferrari and moves on, potentially opening the door for Verstappen. The 27-year-old has expressed interest in the idea in the past.

Verstappen sees the appeal of Ferrari – ‘a nice brand that has achieved a lot in this sport’. “Never say never,” was his verdict on a potential move.

It was recently claimed that Verstappen expects Mercedes to be ahead of Red Bull in 2026. If that’s the case, perhaps a move to Brackley will be a bigger priority for the 63-time race-winner.