Ferrari Just Shut Down Lewis Hamilton’s “F44” Dream Car — Here’s What Really Happened
Every now and then, a rumor hits the car world that feels too good to be true.
Lewis Hamilton — yes, that Lewis Hamilton — supposedly wanted his own Ferrari project: a modern, raw, V12, manual-gearbox supercar inspired by the F40.
The internal name? Ferrari F44.
Because of course it was.
It sounded wild, nostalgic, and honestly… exactly the kind of thing Ferrari fans have been craving for years.
And then — according to Italian media — Ferrari shut it down. Quietly. Completely.
So what happened?
Let’s break it down.
What the F44 Was Supposed to Be
Reports described the F44 as Hamilton’s personal vision of a modernized F40:
V12 engine
Manual transmission (a miracle in 2025)
Old-school Ferrari emotion
New-school engineering
A one-off passion project for the 7-time world champ
Basically the opposite direction of the hybrid, ultra-digital supercar world we’re living in now.
Ferrari fans heard about this and collectively said:
“Please. We need this.”
So Why Cancel It?
According to multiple Italian outlets and F1 journalist Giorgio Terruzzi, the project was initially greenlit and then scrapped internally a short time later.
Ferrari hasn’t commented publicly (they rarely do on private requests), but rumors point to:
1. Internal tension
Ferrari doesn’t want a “Lewis Hamilton Edition Ferrari” being the center of attention while the brand is in a delicate phase.
2. Brand identity concerns
Ferrari guards its heritage religiously.
A manual V12 one-off car for a single client — even a famous one — might’ve felt “off-brand” for 2025.
3. Timing
With Ferrari developing its next EVs, hybrids, and special projects, the F44 may have simply landed at the wrong moment.
Some insiders even suggested Hamilton was disappointed, but that part is still speculation.
Why This Story Blew Up Everywhere
Because it taps into something bigger:
Car fans miss emotional driving.
A manual Ferrari with a howling V12?
That’s not a “car.”
That’s a cultural event.
And when you combine that with Ferrari + Hamilton + F40 nostalgia… yeah. The internet was always going to explode.
Ferrari’s Next Move?
Ferrari may still build something special for Hamilton — just not the F44 he supposedly envisioned.
Think more along the lines of a Tailor Made special, not a full-blown heritage revival model.
And honestly?
Ferrari doesn’t do “impulse.”
They do “strategy.”
Which is exactly why they dominate resale value better than any other brand — a topic I dove into here:
👉 Why Porsche Resale Value Beats Everyone (2025 Edition)
If you want to understand Ferrari, start by understanding the companies who play the long game.
How This Connects to 2025’s Supercar Landscape
Here’s a fun thought:
If Hamilton really wanted something raw, dangerous, visceral?
He wouldn’t need Ferrari.
Cars like the Dodge Viper ACR already prove that brutal, analog performance still has a place, even in 2025.
I actually covered that here if you want to see how wild that car still is:
👉 [The Dodge Viper ACR Still Terrifies Supercars in 2025]
Ferrari chose tradition.
Hamilton wanted rebellion.
That’s the tension that makes this story interesting.
Final Thoughts
Whether the F44 was ever close to reality or just an early-stage conversation, the buzz around it says one thing loud and clear:
Car culture still craves emotion.
Not just lap times.
Not just hybrid numbers.
Emotion.
And if Ferrari ever decides to revive the spirit of the F40 again?
It’s going to be one of the biggest automotive moments of the decade.
Want more stories like this?
I post new breakdowns, buying guides, design studies, and supercar deep dives every week. Stay tuned — tomorrow’s post is a good one.