Lewis Hamilton Working On F40 Revival With Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season has already made waves—he won his first F1 sprint race this weekend. But the seven-time world champion is now hinting at a legacy beyond the grid. In a recent interview, Hamilton revealed he wants to co-create a Ferrari road car—one inspired by the iconic F40. He’s even given it a name: the F44.
Key Points
- The seven-time F1 world champion wants to co-develop a modern tribute to the iconic Ferrari F40, calling it the “F44"
- Hamilton aims to recapture the spirit of the last car approved by Enzo Ferrari—lightweight, analog, and focused on driver engagement
- The F44 would feature a traditional stick shift, likely gated, in a nod to the purist appeal of the original F40.
“One of the things I really want to do is I want to design a Ferrari,” Hamilton said while speaking with Motorsport.com. “I want to do an F44. Baseline of an F40, with the actual stick shift. That’s what I’m gonna work on for the next few years.”
Hamilton’s admiration for the F40 is well known. Earlier this year, he was photographed standing next to the 1980s legend in Maranello. Built to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the original F40 was the last car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988. With a lightweight Kevlar and carbon fiber body, twin-turbo V8, and no traction control or ABS, it was a raw, driver-focused supercar that became a template for future Ferrari halo cars and a staple bedroom poster across the globe.
In contrast, Ferrari’s current flagship— the 1,500-horsepower F80—takes a very different approach. The new car relies on a hybridized V6 powertrain and all-wheel drive to deliver technical performance with cutting-edge control systems. But Hamilton seems to be yearning for something more analog—something that emphasizes feel over outright speed.
While Hamilton hasn’t revealed much about the potential powertrain or design of the F44, his desire to include a manual transmission—ideally a gated shifter—would mark a sharp departure from the paddle-shifted hypercars Ferrari has focused on in recent years. The automaker hasn't offered a manual transmission for more than a decade, retiring the option in 2012. The last mid-engined Ferrari available with a gated manual was the 2009 F430.
If Ferrari gives the project the green light, the F44 could join the automaker’s ultra-exclusive “Icona” lineup, which includes models like the Monza SP1 and Daytona SP3. Rumor has it that Maranello is open to a modern F40 tribute. Ferrari has previously paid homage to the F40 with the one-off SP38 in 2018, a coachbuilt special based on the 488 GTB.
Hamilton’s personal garage has included a 599 GTO, a LaFerrari, and the open-top LaFerrari Aperta.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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