BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Exit Warning Issued as Ferrari L…read more
Lewis Hamilton Exit Warning Issued as Ferrari Leadership Rumours Intensify
Ferrari have been issued a stark warning that they risk losing seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton if they opt to make sweeping changes to their senior leadership — most notably if they decide to part ways with current team principal Fred Vasseur.
The alarm was raised by F1 journalist and Drive to Survive pundit Will Buxton, who expressed deep concern that Hamilton’s future with the Scuderia could be jeopardised if the team disrupts the stability that was promised to him upon his arrival.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari for the 2025 season after a 17-year partnership with Mercedes, is believed to have placed great trust in Vasseur, whom he worked with during his early racing years in GP2. The relationship between the two was reportedly a crucial factor in Hamilton’s decision to make the sensational switch to Maranello.
Concerns Emerge Amid Christian Horner Links
Buxton’s comments come amid intensifying speculation that former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner could be in line to take over at Ferrari, following his unexpected sacking from Red Bull earlier this week. Horner’s two-decade reign came to a sudden end on Wednesday, with Laurent Mekies — former Ferrari sporting director and current AlphaTauri boss — named as his successor.
While it remains unclear whether Horner is actively seeking a new role in F1, rumours have linked him to both Alpine and Ferrari. According to Buxton, however, a move to Alpine appears more plausible, given Horner’s close personal and professional ties to Flavio Briatore, who has recently re-entered the F1 scene in a senior advisory capacity.
“There have been rumours already this year that he was being courted by Alpine, and some linking him to Ferrari,” Buxton said on The Sports Agents Podcast. “I think that one’s more of a stretch than the Alpine one. He’s very close with Flavio Briatore — that one would seem more logical to me.”
Hamilton’s Ferrari Commitment in Question
The central concern for Ferrari, Buxton suggests, is not just about the suitability of Horner as a replacement, but the wider implications such a move could have on team morale and Hamilton’s commitment.
“I can’t imagine this is the last that we will see or hear of Christian Horner,” Buxton stated. “But if Ferrari were to replace Vasseur, I genuinely believe it could push Hamilton to walk away. He’s spoken highly of Fred and sees him as a key pillar in his Ferrari project.”
Hamilton has made it no secret that he joined Ferrari to be part of a long-term vision — one focused on rebuilding the team into a championship-winning force. Vasseur’s leadership, strategic mindset, and familiarity with Hamilton’s work ethic were all seen as critical ingredients for that transformation.
Removing Vasseur mid-season, or shortly after such a high-profile driver acquisition, could be viewed as a betrayal of the stability and culture Ferrari pitched to Hamilton during negotiations.
Ferrari at a Crossroads
Ferrari now face a crucial juncture. With internal pressure mounting due to underwhelming results in the first half of the 2025 season, questions have begun to surface around Vasseur’s ability to turn the team’s fortunes around. However, those calls are being met with equal caution, as disrupting the current team structure risks alienating one of the most iconic and influential drivers in F1 history.
Hamilton, who has yet to win a race for Ferrari but has shown flashes of competitiveness, is believed to be working closely with the technical team on the 2026 car, which will be built under a dramatically revised set of F1 regulations. His influence on the project has reportedly been significant, and Buxton believes that pushing him away now could be disastrous for Ferrari’s long-term aspirations.
“Lewis isn’t just a driver — he’s a project leader,” Buxton concluded. “Ferrari brought him in to transform their culture and drive them into a new era. If they lose him, especially because of internal politics, they’re not just losing a driver — they’re losing their future.”
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