‘Hamilton designing a manual Ferrari is like Heston Blumenthal deciding to make beans on toast — wildly overqualified, yet somehow perfect.’
Lewis Hamilton wants to build the F44 — a proper, stick-shift Ferrari.
A raw, noisy, manual successor to the F40.
No paddles. No eco modes. No apologies.
Just a gear lever, a clutch pedal, and a war cry at 9,000 rpm.
If Ferrari agrees, it’ll be the first manual since 2012 and possibly the last car worth selling your house for.
January 2024: The Setup:
Hamilton signs for Ferrari. Everyone claps.
Ferrari’s PR machine fires into overdrive — red suits, red caps, red everything.
But Lewis isn’t just here to drive. He’s here to build something.
March 2025: The Idea Surfaces:
In China, Hamilton scores solid points.
Off-track? He tells Motorsport.com he’s dreaming bigger:
‘I want to do an F44. Baseline of an F40. With the actual stick shift.’
The internet promptly has a minor meltdown.
The F44 Concept (Hamilton’s Vision):
A manual, mid-engined Ferrari inspired by the legendary F40.
Naturally aspirated (if emissions allow), lightweight, rear-wheel-drive.
Built in limited numbers, aimed squarely at Pagani and Gordon Murray’s clientele.
The badge? A tribute to his race number.
The vibe? Somewhere between Maranello heritage and garage-built lunacy.
Why It Matters:
The last manual Ferrari built was in 2012.
Ferrari insists F1-style gearboxes are ‘the future.’
But Hamilton, armed with Richard Mille watches and Lululemon sponsorship, thinks otherwise.
It’s old-school. Unfiltered. And utterly unhinged.
2025 and Beyond:
Ferrari hasn’t confirmed anything. Yet.
Hamilton’s influence at Maranello is rising.
If this gets greenlit, the F44 will be the loudest, rawest, and most controversial Ferrari in decades.
And possibly the last great manual supercar before the EV curtain drops.
‘It’s 2025. Ferrari wants hybrids. Lewis wants a clutch pedal. Somewhere, Enzo is probably pouring a glass of red and nodding.’
