Ferrari backed to replace Lewis Hamilton with 13-point ‘huge talent’ when he decides to walk away from F1

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Lewis Hamilton is searching for his record-breaking eighth world title in F1 with Ferrari. However, he is running out of time to achieve that goal.

The Brit’s chances of winning the championship in 2025 are all but over, having yet to score a podium for Ferrari after 12 races, excluding Sprints. Besides his win in the Sprint in China, he has had little success since moving from Mercedes.

The SF-25 has a concerningly small operating window, with the 40-year-old and teammate Charles Leclerc struggling to find the right balance. Hamilton is having trouble with power steering, which he has suffered from all season as he sits sixth in the standings.

Hamilton has been trying to change Ferrari’s ‘philosophy’ and use his experience to find improvements at the Maranello outfit. He has been calling for Ferrari to focus on the 2026 F1 regulations, which could be his last chance to grab another championship.

Hamilton’s Ferrari contract expires in 2026, but the team do have the option to extend by another year. The Brit has desperately struggled with the ground-effect cars and the new regulations may be just what he needs to rebuild his confidence.

However, there is no guarantee that he will be competitive with the new car. In fact, there are concerns that Ferrari are behind Mercedes and Audi in terms of their power unit, which could leave Hamilton considering his future in F1.

Ferrari backed to replace Lewis Hamilton with Oliver Bearman when he retires from F1

Now 40 years old, Hamilton will know that he does not have long left in the sport. If he does decide to call time on his career after 2026, former Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell is backing Oliver Bearman to replace him.

The Haas driver is part of the Ferrari setup, having made his debut with the team in place of Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Speaking via the Lovecars On the Grid podcast, Needell sees the young Brit as a ‘huge talent’ and a future world champion.

“I’m just waiting for Lewis to retire so Ollie Bearman can get in a Ferrari. That’s what I want. Sorry Lewis fans,” he said.

“I don’t think he’s ever going to get the eighth. He obviously should have had it as we all know, but we won’t go there again for now!

“So I don’t think Lewis is going to get there. I think he’ll try this new car for a year, maybe the new car will turn on Lewis Hamilton and he’ll be the quickest in the Ferrari and he’ll win it next year.

“But if he struggles with the new 2026 cars, I can see him walking away. Ollie Bearman will be the next British world champion after obviously Lando, well, maybe not Lando!

“To be a world champion and wearing the red of Ferrari. Ferrari, a world champion for Britain, Ollie Bearman, huge, huge, huge talent and such a nice kid.”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Ferrari are keeping tabs on Oliver Bearman for the future

Since making the step up to F1, Bearman has shown flashes of his top potential. He finished P7 on debut for Ferrari in Jeddah last season, beating fellow compatriots Lando Norris and Hamilton.

He would get two more sub appearances for Haas in 2024 in Baku and Sao Paulo before landing a full-time seat for 2025. Ferrari would keep tabs on Bearman compared to Esteban Ocon, said Anthony Davidson before the season, as they line him up for the future.

As the stats show, Ocon does currently have the upper hand, but his teammate is keeping close to him with strong pace most weekends. The 20-year-old, who has managed 13 points in his F1 career thus far, is rated highly in Maranello, with many believing it is a matter of time before Bearman joins Ferrari.

Bearman has ‘learnt’ from Hamilton’s speed and mental strength in 2025, which he has looked to integrate into his racecraft. He has the perfect driver to learn from as he ascends the F1 ladder.