P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton issue set to curse F1 in 2026
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari surprised many, including Toto Wolff, leaving Mercedes with a big hole to fill in their driver lineup.
Carlos Sainz was significantly impacted by Hamilton fulfilling his dream signing with Ferrari, displacing him and presenting a tough decision on his next move.
With multiple options on the table in the 2024 silly season, thanks to Hamilton’s early announcement, many driver contracts were held up.
The 2025 grid sees several contracts expiring, setting the stage for another potentially hectic silly season in 2026, involving names like Hamilton and Sainz.
As the driver market remains uncertain for 2027, talents like Max Verstappen may consider options outside of Red Bull, particularly in light of the new regulations potentially reshuffling the order.
The focus may be on Verstappen, but once again, Hamilton and Sainz could headline any potential standstill in the driver market, with the latter not ruling out a return to his former team.
