Sky Sports F1 presenter Simon Lazenby left his colleagues in stunned silence after raising serious questions about Lewis Hamilton's future with Ferrari, following what the seven-time world champion himself has described as a 'nightmare' debut season.
A Season of Struggle for Hamilton and Ferrari
Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the fabled Scuderia finds itself languishing in a dismal fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. The team has been consistently outperformed by rivals McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull throughout the campaign.
The high-profile partnership of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has failed to deliver on its enormous promise, with the team yet to secure a single race victory this year. While Leclerc has managed a handful of podium finishes, Hamilton is still waiting for his first top-three finish as a Ferrari driver.
Lazenby's Startling Prediction
Despite team principal Fred Vasseur signing a contract extension in July, doubts are growing about the team's direction. During a discussion on 'The F1 Show', Lazenby surprised co-hosts Ted Kravitz and Bernie Collins by hinting that Hamilton might reassess his position if the disappointing form continues into 2026.
"This is Ferrari. If [poor results] carry on in 2026 then heads are going to roll. They just will," Lazenby stated emphatically. "They need to start winning championships again. Fred got an extension to his contract. They make the marquee signing, [Ferrari chairman] Elkann brings in Hamilton then they have a season like this when they finish fourth. Fourth is not second."
Lazenby pointedly asked what would prevent Hamilton from leaving if the situation does not improve, suggesting that the team principal is usually the first to face consequences at Maranello. His comments were met with a telling silence from his fellow pundits.
Hamilton's 'Nightmare' Reality
The Briton's difficult season hit a new low at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he qualified a lowly 13th before crashing into the back of Franco Colapinto's Alpine on the opening lap. The collision caused irreparable damage to his front wing, forcing an early retirement.
Hamilton did not mince his words when assessing his current predicament. "This is a nightmare, and I've been living it for a while," he confessed. "The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team, and then the nightmare of results that we've had, the ups and downs, it is challenging."
He described the Brazilian weekend as "disastrous and disappointing for everyone involved," adding that he is trying to "keep my head above water and remain positive."
With pressure mounting and patience wearing thin, all eyes are now on Ferrari to deliver a radical turnaround, lest they risk losing their star signing and facing a major organisational shake-up.
