During his reign at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton had expressed a desire to co-develop a special edition of the AMG One hypercar. That was back in 2019, and the idea quietly faded away, with no updates ever materializing about a tailored version of the F1-inspired machine. Fast forward to 2025, and with Hamilton now driving for Ferrari, the seven-time Formula 1 champion is once again setting his sights on shaping a road car — only this time, it bears the iconic Prancing Horse emblem. He’s even christened the project: F44.
Reports indicate Hamilton is keen on helping bring to life a road-going Ferrari inspired by the legendary F40. Taking on such a task is far from simple, not only due to the immense technical challenge but also because of the F40’s historic place in Ferrari’s legacy. The car famously marked the final model personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988, just a year after the F40 made its debut.
Hamilton, in sharing his vision, revealed that designing a Ferrari has become one of his personal goals. He wants the F44 to build upon the foundation of the F40, complete with a proper manual gearbox. It’s a concept he intends to pursue over the next several years.
His admiration for the F40 is hardly surprising. On his very first official visit to Ferrari’s Maranello HQ, Hamilton was seen posing alongside the iconic twin-turbo V8 machine. Even prior to his move to Ferrari, he had already amassed an enviable collection of Ferraris using his personal fortune — including the 599 GTO and LaFerrari, both in coupe and Aperta forms. The F40 may be missing from his garage for now, but fellow F1 driver and McLaren competitor Lando Norris reportedly owns one of the 1,311 units produced between 1987 and 1992.
While Hamilton’s aspirations might seem like a personal dream, speculation suggests Ferrari is seriously evaluating the concept of an F40 revival. According to Top Gear magazine, which published a report in November, the envisioned model could become part of Ferrari’s ultra-rare “Icona” lineup — a collection that currently includes the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. Allegedly, the revived F40 wouldn’t be built on the new F80 but rather on the older LaFerrari platform, and it would ditch the hybrid assistance normally paired with its V12 powertrain.
Interestingly, this wouldn’t be Ferrari’s first attempt at reimagining the F40. Back in 2018, the Italian marque revealed the one-off SP38, a bespoke project built on the 488 GTB’s chassis. Designed for a particularly loyal Ferrari client, the SP38 subtly echoed elements of the original F40, one of the most iconic supercars of the 1980s. However, what Hamilton envisions — and what recent rumors seem to support — is a more comprehensive homage: a full-production tribute to the F40 legacy.
For now, though, Hamilton’s focus remains on more pressing matters. His first year with Ferrari hasn’t started as planned. He managed a tenth-place finish in Australia, followed by sixth in China last weekend. Things took a turn for the worse when he was disqualified from the most recent race due to excessive wear found on the rear floor of his SF-25.
At 40 years old, Hamilton’s path at Ferrari is still unfolding — and before he can fully dedicate himself to shaping the F44, he’ll need to elevate his performance on the track.
