Lewis Hamilton's debut season at Ferrari has been described as a 'nightmare' by the driver himself, with no podium finishes in 21 races. The seven-time world champion crashed out of the Brazilian Grand Prix after a collision with Franco Colapinto, and sits 66 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc in the drivers' championship, despite being just one place behind in the standings.
Ferrari president John Elkann criticised both drivers, telling them to 'talk less and focus on driving'. Hamilton, 40, has a multi-year contract, but speculation about a shock exit has led to two possible replacements: Ollie Bearman and Carlos Sainz.
Ollie Bearman, 20, is a Ferrari Driver Academy member currently racing for Haas. He impressed in a one-off appearance for Ferrari in 2024 and has scored points in the last four races. F1 correspondent Ted Kravitz considers Bearman Ferrari's future, suggesting it is a matter of when, not if, he inherits Hamilton's seat.
Alternatively, Carlos Sainz, who was forced to leave Ferrari when Hamilton arrived, could make a sensational return. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Sainz would be an ideal replacement, noting his ability to keep Leclerc under control. Sainz himself has hinted he might return to Ferrari.
