Lewis Hamilton’s challenging debut championship with Ferrari reached a new low at the Hungarian Grand Prix, when the seven-time world champion hinted that the Scuderia might need to consider replacing him.
The 2025 campaign began as a dream come true for the Briton, who at 40 years old moved from Mercedes to Maranello after spending 12 seasons with the Brackley-based team. Yet, instead of the anticipated triumphs, the first half of the season has felt more like a struggle than a success, as Hamilton has encountered unexpected difficulties adjusting to the Ferrari machinery and its distinct operational culture.
In his 19-year Formula 1 career, Lewis Hamilton had never previously gone through the first 10 rounds of a season without scoring at least one Grand Prix podium finish. However, the 202-time podium finisher is still waiting to step onto the top three in the iconic red livery after the first 14 of 24 races in 2025.
Statistics underscore the severity of Lewis Hamilton’s struggles this season. After 14 rounds, he has recorded only 109 points, marking his lowest tally since Formula 1 adopted the current points system in 2010. The Hungarian Grand Prix represented yet another setback, as Hamilton failed to score any points for the first time in a Ferrari, finishing only in 12th place.
The difficulties in Budapest were compounded by a stark contrast in performance within the team. Hamilton qualified 12th while his teammate, Charles Leclerc, secured pole position, prompting Hamilton to describe his own performance as “useless” and even suggest that Ferrari might need to change their driver lineup after he missed Q3 for the fourth time in 2025.
Despite these setbacks, Ferrari currently has no plans to replace Hamilton for the 2026 season. However, Auto Motor und Sport has reported that the Scuderia has already identified Haas rookie Oliver Bearman as the potential replacement should Hamilton decide to retire. Oliver Bearman, a Ferrari Academy driver, is considered ready and capable of stepping into the Italian team if the seven-time world champion opts to leave before the end of his £39 million-per-year contract, which runs through 2026 with an option to extend into 2027.
Hamilton is not publicly planning to retire at this stage, allowing Haas to continue preparing for 2026 with Ollie Bearman alongside Esteban Ocon. Yet, should Hamilton’s struggles persist and he chooses to conclude his F1 career, Ferrari are ready to promote Oliver Bearman into the cockpit, ensuring continuity within the team while transitioning to the post-Hamilton era.
Ferrari has long regarded Oliver Bearman as a key part of their long-term driver strategy. The young British driver has experienced an up-and-down first full season in Formula 1 with Haas during 2025, showing moments of brilliance interspersed with learning curves typical of a rookie campaign. Nevertheless, he retains the full support of Ferrari management, positioned as the natural successor in case Hamilton’s challenging debut season leads to an early exit.
With the 2026 regulations on the horizon, Ferrari’s preparation for the future is already underway. Ollie Bearman’s development and ongoing monitoring by the Scuderia ensure that if Hamilton ultimately steps aside, the Italian team will have a prepared and capable replacement ready to compete in the new era of Formula 1.
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