One F1 driver is ‘imprinted on Ferrari’s future’ amid Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc uncertainty

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Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s chosen one and Lewis Hamilton is the most successful F1 driver in history, yet neither is certain to race in red past 2026 after a sub-par 2025.

The Scuderia would have thought they had lined up the best driver pairing on the grid when Hamilton moved to Maranello to partner Leclerc ahead of the 2025 F1 season. But the pride of Italy are still the only one of F1’s top four teams without a Grand Prix win after 21 rounds.

Hamilton is yet to score a single Grand Prix podium as a Ferrari driver, as well, as he has thus far struggled to adapt to not only their car but also the team’s methods. Leclerc has secured seven Grand Prix podiums so far, but he also only ranks fifth in the F1 drivers’ championship.

So, Hamilton has given Ferrari documents listing various changes that he wants the team to make ahead of what will be a huge year in 2026. The Briton is pinning his hopes on Ferrari’s car for F1’s 2026 regulations returning him to the very top, and Leclerc will also want to win.

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman’s name is ‘imprinted on Ferrari’s future’

Should Ferrari fail to deliver a competitive car under the 2026 F1 regulations, then Hamilton and Leclerc might walk away. It is said that Leclerc and Hamilton can leave Ferrari for free in 2026, owing to a release clause in the former’s contract set to run through the 2029 season.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

And Gazzetta dello Sport now reports that neither Hamilton nor Leclerc is certain to race for Ferrari in 2027. Hamilton could consider retiring from F1 if Ferrari’s car is a flop in 2026, and Leclerc will likely consider departing. All the while, Oliver Bearman is ‘waiting’ to join Ferrari.

Bearman’s name is ‘imprinted on Ferrari’s future’, and all the 20-year-old has to do to move to Maranello in the near future is to continue developing with Haas. Ferrari are not in a rush to promote the Briton, who is on loan to Haas through 2026, but he will race in red one day.

Ferrari’s ‘priority’ is to develop a potentially title-winning car under the 2026 F1 regulations, which they hope will convince Leclerc to honour his contract and possibly keep Hamilton in Maranello. Hamilton joined Ferrari on an initial two-year contract, with an option for 2027.

Ferrari academy product Oliver Bearman has shown he’s ready to join a top F1 team

Bearman has regularly been linked with a potential future move to Ferrari, especially of late amid the uncertainty surrounding Hamilton and Leclerc’s futures at the Scuderia. Ferrari are particularly impressed by Bearman’s consistency, as well, having never doubted his speed.

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

The Ferrari Driver Academy product has scored points in five of the past seven Grands Prix, which includes a career-best P4 in Mexico. Bearman has also made Q3 during qualifying for six of the 21 Grands Prix run so far, while teammate Esteban Ocon has only made Q3 twice.

Damon Hill is convinced that Bearman is ready to join a “top” team following his recent run of results, but especially his ability to extract the most from the car he has at Haas, as well. Bearman has scored 40 of Haas’ 70 points in 2025 for eighth in the constructors’ standings.