Lewis Hamilton’s legendary Formula 1 career appears to be winding down, with a tough outlook ahead at Ferrari heading into the 2026 season.
The move to Maranello has not gone according to plan for the seven-time world champion, as he heads into 2025 without a single podium from 20 races. Hamilton will be hoping the new F1 regulations give him a better feel for the car, something that has eluded him throughout this era.
Next season may well be his last chance to turn things around. Ferrari don’t intend to renew his deal, leaving Hamilton out of a seat in 2026 unless he decides to exercise his option for an additional year.
Hamilton’s struggles have been clear throughout the year, including moments where he looked disheartened and even suggested in Budapest that the team should replace him. The constant battle to adapt and improve has worn on both sides of the relationship.
The expectations were sky-high when Hamilton joined Ferrari, but fans have grown frustrated by his contract and price tag without any championship results. Now with no extension planned, attention has shifted toward who might step in next.
Oliver Bearman building Ferrari links as George Russell rumours pick up
Ferrari have recently been linked to a move for George Russell, with reports out of Italy suggesting they’re ready to offer him a contract for 2027. Russell is only tied to Mercedes through 2026 and is thought to have an exit clause.
Haas driver Oliver Bearman has also attracted Ferrari’s attention. The rookie, already part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, had his best result of the season with a P4 finish in Mexico.
Bearman’s form hasn’t gone unnoticed in Maranello. Journalist Nelson Valkenburg mentioned on The Race F1 Podcast that team boss Fred Vasseur is “very, very much” backing the young driver.
Valkenburg said: “It depends on how long he has to wait because an awful lot can go wrong in the meantime,” speaking about Bearman’s path to a potential Ferrari seat.
“But he did prove a lot to a lot of the naysayers and it proved a lot, I think, to Ferrari. It’s clear that Fred Vasseur is very, very much on his side.”
“And timing-wise, it couldn’t have come better, because this season – a real rookie season – he’s shown speed but been a little erratic. And this was such a measured performance that it came at exactly the right time.”
Questions growing if Oliver Bearman could get fast-tracked into Ferrari
Hamilton called Bearman’s drive in Mexico ‘mega’, a word that captured how many inside Ferrari saw the performance too.
Bearman’s still only 20 and has made some early mistakes, but he’s put together a decent season for Haas. The new rules coming in next year should suit him even more.
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Martin Brundle thinks Bearman is ready to step up and should be the first name on the list when a spot opens up. With Hamilton looking likely to move on, there aren’t many reasons left to look elsewhere.
By now, few would be surprised if Bearman stepped in for Hamilton. Ferrari rate him highly, and they’ve been open about seeing him as part of their long-term plans.
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