Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur is a ‘very, very’ big fan of one potential Lewis Hamilton replacement

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Lewis Hamilton is nearing the end of his incredible Formula 1 career, facing a bleak reality at Ferrari for 2026.

The seven-time champion’s move to Maranello has not gone to plan, with him failing to score a podium in 20 races of 2025. Hamilton will be banking on the 2026 F1 regulations to give him a better feel for the car, having struggled in the ground-effect era.

However, next year could well be his last. Ferrari will not renew Hamilton’s contract, leaving him out of a seat in 2026, unless he takes up the option to extend it for 2027.

Ferrari have been concerned by Hamilton’s body language, with the 40-year-old being despondent several times in 2025. He has struggled to get to grips with the new car and even told the team they should replace him back in Budapest.

Ferrari fans are ‘bothered’ by Hamilton’s contract and the price they paid for him, as he has not emulated the dominance of Michael Schumacher. Now he is not set to get a new deal, speculation has ramped up as to who could replace him.

Oliver Bearman has Fred Vasseur ‘very, very much’ on his side amid potential Ferrari move

Recently, Ferrari were linked with a shock move for George Russell, with Italian media stating that they are prepared to offer him a deal for 2027. Mercedes only confirmed him for 2026, with it being understood that he has an exit clause.

Haas driver and Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman has also caught the Maranello outfit’s attention. The rookie is enjoying a strong campaign in 2025, recording his best finish of P4 last time out in Mexico.

His stunning performance left an impression on Ferrari, with journalist Nelson Valkenburg saying that he has the support of the boss. Fred Vasseur is ‘very, very much’ on Bearman’s side, which could play into his hands for a future seat.

“It depends on how long he has to wait, because an awful lot can go wrong in the meantime,” said Valkenberg about Bearman’s chances of joining Ferrari on The Race F1 Podcast.

“But he did prove a lot to a lot of the naysayers and it proved a lot, I think, to Ferrari. It’s clear that Fred Vasseur is very, very much on his side.

“And timing-wise, it couldn’t have come better, because this season, a real rookie season, he’s shown speed, but he’s been a little erratic. And this was such a measured performance that it came at the right time.”

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know

Is Oliver Bearman ready for a promotion to Ferrari?

Hamilton praised Bearman’s ‘mega’ drive in Mexico, highlighting just how much of an impression he made on Ferrari with his performance.

The 20-year-old still has a lot to learn, having made some rookie errors in 2025. But he has performed admirably with Haas this season, and he is in a good place to have a decent year in 2026 under the new regulations.

Martin Brundle thinks Bearman is ready for Ferrari and should be given a seat the moment it becomes available. With Hamilton possibly set to leave in 2026, the Brit must be the leading candidate for the seat.

Bearman would ‘surprise no one’ if he replaced Hamilton, given how highly he is rated by Ferrari. They are preparing him for the future as the 20-year-old targets a world championship with the famous red team.