Lewis Hamilton said during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that Ferrari ‘probably’ need to replace him. The extraordinary remark has naturally led to speculation over his Formula 1 future.
Hamilton was clearly emotional in the media pen after a desperately disappointing qualifying (he ended up P12). But he didn’t retract his comments after Sunday’s race, where he failed to make any progress.
The team have not said anything to suggest that they’re considering a driver change. But internally, Ralf Schumacher says Ferrari aren’t turning a ‘blind eye’ to Hamilton’s unravelling.
Fred Vasseur needs to consider whether he can revive his superstar signing. There’s no doubt that Ferrari’s image is being damaged by Hamilton’s below-par results and scathing self-criticism.
Oliver Bearman already has a Maranello apartment amid uncertainty over Lewis Hamilton
When Hamilton leaves, be it at the end of his contract (in 2026) or earlier, Haas’ Oliver Bearman is the standout candidate to replace him. Bearman is the only member of the Ferrari driver academy currently racing in F1.
The Englishman already represented the team at last year’s Saudi Arabian GP when Carlos Sainz had to withdraw through illness. He finished a commendable P7, and then placed 10th as a Haas substitute in Azerbaijan, becoming the first driver to score points for two different teams in his first two races.
Photo by Gabriele Lanzo/Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images
That highlights how quickly Bearman can be on the pace, which is a precious attribute. According to Sky Italy, the 20-year-old already has an apartment near Ferrari’s Maranello HQ.
This would aid Bearman’s integration significantly, as would his strong grasp of Italian. Hamilton has been trying to learn the language this year, but recently admitted that his lessons have taken a back seat.
Has Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman the unluckiest driver in Formula 1 this year?
Naturally, the big question is whether Bearman is good enough to be racing for one of F1’s top teams. He entered the summer break 19th in the championship, the lowest-ranked driver who’s competed in every race.
But that doesn’t tell the full story. Bearman remarkably finished 11th at four consecutive races between Canada and Belgium, agonisingly missing out on points. He’s arguably been the unluckiest driver in F1 this season.
He’s also stacked up well against Esteban Ocon, a race-winner with vast experience and a good reputation. He’s already beaten him in 12 competitive sessions, and the qualifying head-to-head is almost level (9-7).
Bearman has made a couple of embarrassing mistakes, most notably a pit-lane crash under red flags at Silverstone that earned him a 10-place penalty. But that can be put down to his inexperience, and he should cut out those errors within the next year or so.