Ferrari should consider a move for Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto when Lewis Hamilton eventually leaves the team.<\/p>\n
That is the claim of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has urged Ferrari to \u201cwake up\u201d and take note of the Brazilian\u2019s talent.<\/p>\n
Gabriel Bortoleto to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari?<\/p>\n
Hamilton has had a difficult start to life at Ferrari since his high-profile move from Mercedes last winter, failing to register a podium across his first 14 appearances for his new team.<\/p>\n
The seven-time World Champion, who is believed to be contracted to Ferrari until at least the end of the F1 2026 season, cast doubt over his future at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
After qualifying a distant 12th on a day team-mate Charles Leclerc claimed Ferrari\u2019s first pole position of the season, Hamilton repeatedly referred to himself as \u201cuseless\u201d before suggesting that the team should consider replacing him.<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton vs Charles Leclerc: Ferrari head-to-head scores for F1 2025<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head race statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n The 40-year-old went on to allude to potential trouble behind the scenes at Ferrari, adding: \u201cThere\u2019s a lot going on in the background that\u2019s not great.\u201d<\/p>\n Bortoleto graduated to Formula 1 with Sauber in F1 2025 after winning the F3 and F2 feeder categories in successive seasons in 2023 and 2024, following in the footsteps of McLaren driver and current championship leader Oscar Piastri, who achieved the same feat in 2020\/21.<\/p>\n The Brazilian, who is managed by Aston Martin driver and two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, has impressed alongside veteran Nico Hulkenberg in his debut season with the soon-to-be Audi F1 team, scoring points in three of the last four races.<\/p>\n Ecclestone, who has close ties to Brazil, revealed recently that he helped Sao Paulo-born Bortoleto secure an opportunity in F1<\/a>, claiming the rookie is \u201cworth his weight in gold.\u201d<\/p>\n And the 94-year-old, who says Hamilton risks \u201ccheating himself\u201d by continuing his F1 career<\/a>, has urged Ferrari to make a move for Bortoleto when a vacancy next appears in the team\u2019s driver lineup.<\/p>\n According to Swiss-German publication Blick, Ecclestone said: \u201cBortoleto\u2019s strong performances in a midfield team like Sauber should really wake Ferrari up now.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next driver question for the Italians needs to be resolved with the Brazilian.\u201d<\/p>\n Ecclestone\u2019s comments come after Alonso\u00a0claimed in Hungary<\/a> that Bortoleto is \u201cthe best rookie of this generation\u201d and argued that he deserves more credit for his achievements in F1 2025.<\/p>\n Alonso told media including PlanetF1.com:\u00a0\u201cIf he was English or something, and finished sixth in a Sauber, he\u2019d be in all the news. What he does is exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\n A report in Italy last week claimed that Hamilton\u2019s contract contains an option<\/a> allowing him to extend of his Ferrari deal until the end of the 2027 season regardless of his performance level, giving the team little say in the matter.<\/p>\n However, it is possible that the seven-time World Champion could opt to retire at the end of 2026 if he feels he can no longer compete at the front.<\/p>\n More on Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Lewis Hamilton news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Ferrari news<\/a><\/p>\n