Won’t See the Light of Day
Earlier this year, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton didn’t just bring his talents to Scuderia Ferrari; he also reportedly explored reviving the F40 with a V12 engine and a manual transmission. As promising as that sounded to enthusiasts, new reports suggest it may no longer be the case.
According to Everyeye.it, long-time F1 journalist Giorgio Terruzzi told a podcast that the so-called F44 project – a nod to Hamilton’s racing number – had been cancelled. Terruzzi added that the 40-year-old Englishman was bothered by the situation, though he cautioned that this was unconfirmed speculation.
A True V12 Manual Revival—Now Off the Table
Before the 2025 season started, Hamilton notably visited Maranello and posed with the F40, the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 supercar widely regarded as one of the most iconic Ferraris ever built. It was Ferrari’s final flagship before the brand returned to a V12 layout with the F50, followed by the Enzo and LaFerrari.
As a side note, today’s halo model is the F40-inspired F80, which uses a twin-turbo hybrid V6 derived from the Le Mans–winning 499P hypercar.
The F44 project would’ve brought a V12 back to a flagship Ferrari, or at least drawn inspiration from it. This type of engine is often considered the soul of the brand, with legendary models like the 250 GTO built around it. Likewise, a traditional shift stick would’ve been a welcome return after Ferrari phased out manuals in the early 2010s, with the 599 GTB widely regarded as the final V12 model to offer one.
Ferrari
Tough Year
Given that Hamilton has been enduring a nightmare season, releasing a promising special-spec car may not be ideal timing. This year, Hamilton has suffered several Q1 exits and entered the season finale in Abu Dhabi with 152 points – 78 fewer than his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
In the meantime, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ferrari commission Hamilton a special-edition version of an existing model, similar to the Daytona SP3s Leclerc and Carlos Sainz (the driver Hamilton replaced) have taken delivery of. Hamilton is signed to a multi-year contract with the Maranello squad, which includes the 2026 season when F1 will introduce a new engine regulation package aimed at greater sustainability.
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