The dream move to Ferrari has rapidly turned into a nightmare for Lewis Hamilton, with speculation mounting that the Scuderia could replace the seven-time world champion ahead of the 2026 season.
Hamilton's maiden campaign with the iconic Italian team has been nothing short of catastrophic. Despite the immense excitement surrounding his switch from Mercedes, the British driver has failed to secure a single podium finish across the 21 races of the 2025 season.
A Season of Struggle
The situation hit a new low at the recent Brazilian Grand Prix, where Hamilton crashed out following a collision with Franco Colapinto. With just three races remaining, the 40-year-old finds himself a staggering 66 points behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, in the drivers' championship, despite being only one position adrift.
Compounding the team's woes, Leclerc also failed to finish the Sao Paulo race, marking a disastrous weekend for Ferrari. The drivers then faced public criticism from Ferrari president John Elkann, who delivered a stinging rebuke, instructing them to "talk less and focus on driving."
Elkann pointedly praised the team's mechanics and engineers, stating their work was "winning the championship," while implying the drivers' performances were "not up to par."
A dejected Hamilton later described the season as a "nightmare" in an interview with Sky F1, lamenting the chasm between the dream of driving for Ferrari and the reality of their poor results.
Potential Replacements for Hamilton
While Hamilton is expected to see out his multi-year contract, his shocking underperformance has led to questions about his future. Should he make a surprise exit, two primary candidates have emerged as potential successors.
Ollie Bearman stands out as the most logical replacement. The 20-year-old British driver, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022, already has experience with the team, having impressively stood in for Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix where he finished seventh on his F1 debut.
Currently driving for Haas, Bearman is enjoying a remarkable rookie season, sitting 11th in the championship and having scored points in each of the last four races. F1 correspondent Ted Kravitz has identified him as Ferrari's future, suggesting it is a matter of when, not if, he takes a seat at Maranello.
In a surprising twist, Carlos Sainz has been tipped for a sensational return to the team he was forced to leave to make way for Hamilton. The Spanish driver, now at Williams, was consistently competitive against Leclerc during his previous stint with Ferrari.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that if Hamilton's contract were to be terminated early, Sainz would be the ideal candidate due to his proven ability to challenge Leclerc—something Hamilton has struggled with this season.
What Comes Next for Ferrari?
The final three races of the 2025 season will be crucial for Hamilton to demonstrate he can reverse his fortunes. The pressure is immense, not only from the team's leadership but from a global fanbase that expected a championship challenge.
Whether Hamilton can salvage his Ferrari legacy or whether the team will be forced to consider a radical change remains one of the most compelling stories in Formula 1. The possibility of a young star like Bearman stepping up or a proven quantity like Sainz returning adds further intrigue to the Scuderia's future driver line-up.
