Image via Scuderia Ferrari
A highly anticipated Ferrari project reportedly tied to Lewis Hamilton has been shelved, according to new claims from Italian media. Earlier this year, the seven-time Formula 1 champion was said to be exploring a modern revival inspired by the iconic F40, complete with a V12 engine and manual transmission. The rumored initiative, internally referred to as the F44 in reference to Hamilton’s racing number, now appears unlikely to move forward.
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Italian outlet Everyeye.it reported comments from longtime Formula 1 journalist Giorgio Terruzzi, who said on a podcast that the project had been canceled. Terruzzi suggested Hamilton was disappointed, though he emphasized that the information should be treated as speculation rather than confirmed fact.
Interest in the rumored car surged after Hamilton visited Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters ahead of the 2025 season. During that visit, he posed with the F40, the legendary twin-turbo V8 model considered one of Ferrari’s greatest flagships. It marked the final era of Ferrari’s turbocharged halo cars before the brand returned to naturally aspirated V12 engines with the F50, Enzo and later LaFerrari. Today’s top-tier model, the F80, draws direct inspiration from the F40 while adopting a hybrid twin-turbo V6 derived from Ferrari’s Le Mans–winning 499P.
Had the F44 come to life, it would have represented an unusually bold move: a full return to a V12-powered halo car with a traditional manual gearbox. Ferrari ended manual production in the early 2010s, with the 599 GTB widely recognized as the last flagship V12 available with a gated shifter. Enthusiasts viewed the rumored project as a once-in-a-generation throwback.
The timing, however, may have complicated the idea. Hamilton has endured a difficult season, marked by several Q1 eliminations and a significant points gap to teammate Charles Leclerc. He arrived at the Abu Dhabi finale with 152 points, trailing his Ferrari counterpart by 78.
Even if the F44 is no longer under consideration, Ferrari could still develop a personalized edition of an existing model for Hamilton, much like the Daytona SP3 specials delivered to Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Hamilton remains under a multi-year contract with Ferrari, including the pivotal 2026 season when Formula 1 will transition to its next-generation engine regulations focused on sustainability.
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