Ferrari have issued ‘last chance’ warning to Lewis Hamilton as 2027 replacement is already lined up

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The current winter break is going to be one of the most important of Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 career so far.

Given what he has achieved, it’s too strong to call it a defining moment, but it could be decisive in deciding his future, beyond the start of the 2026 F1 regulations.

Ferrari will hope that their new car can compete for both championships, but their rivals will have poured plenty of resources into the changes, too.

After a turbulent first 12 months with the Maranello-based outfit, Hamilton needs to use every ounce of his experience if he wants to stand a chance of returning to the top of the pecking order.

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Hamilton must improve one weakness in 2026 and get a little bit closer to his teammate. Charles Leclerc had a comfortable edge over him in 2025.

There’s an argument to suggest Hamilton picked the worst time to leave Mercedes. Ferrari went from contenders to the midfield very quickly.

READ MORE: Ferrari told why they are to blame after Lewis Hamilton ‘gave up’ in the 2025 F1 season

Lewis Hamilton is on his ‘last chance’ at Ferrari as Oliver Bearman lined up as successor

Hamilton needs to ‘build a nest’ for himself at Ferrari, much like Michael Schumacher did in the early 2000s.

Once he has the right support network around him to succeed, he should be able to kick on and start scoring some stronger results.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the Briton is now on his ‘last chance’ heading into 2026. He’s nearing an ending that almost no one imagined when he signed for them.

In the case that he fails to perform, he will be replaced by Haas driver Oliver Bearman for 2027. The young rookie showed a lot of promise this year.

Team boss Fred Vasseur has insisted that ‘everything’ Ferrari is new for 2026. It sounds like they’re going to have the exact sort of overhaul needed to bring success home.

If they start the year poorly, it won’t just be Hamilton’s position under threat. Vasseur, as the team’s leader, could be held responsible for his team’s shortfalls.

READ MORE: Toto Wolff saw something Ferrari didn’t when Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes

How Ferrari could end up with two new drivers for 2027

Hamilton isn’t the only one who could be moving on to pastures new heading into 2027. Despite being under contract, Leclerc could be encouraged to move on, too.

But not by Ferrari. Instead, his own entourage may suggest that to take advantage of his best remaining years, he joins a rival team, better equipped to win now.

Of course, that’s in the event that Ferrari fail to deliver next season, but he’ll want to make use of the ‘prime’ of his career.

Otherwise, it will feel like Ferrari wasted the best of a driver they once felt would bring success back to the team.

Emotionally, he won’t want to leave them behind, either, but he might not be left with much choice. The window is closing.