Resurgent Lewis Hamilton is now ‘changing the whole picture’ for Oliver Bearman’s Ferrari future

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Ferrari will have to decide whether to replace Lewis Hamilton for the 2027 Formula 1 season after two years with the team.

Lewis Hamilton has made his way back to the front at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, after doubt had begun to appear over his future with Ferrari.

The British driver did not claim a Grand Prix podium during his debut season with Ferrari in 2025, although he did secure a Sprint Race victory and a further Sprint Race podium.

However, Hamilton has been back at the sharp end in the opening two rounds of the 2026 season. In Australia, the seven-time World Champion finished in fourth place, and then secured a third-place finish in the Sprint Race in China.

What do you expect from Lewis Hamilton in the 2026 F1 season?

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Ferrari has a ‘strong backup option’ for Lewis Hamilton

With the form that Hamilton has found, Ferrari may be more inclined to re-sign the British driver for the 2027 season if he can keep performing at the front on a consistent basis.

However, if the British drivers form dips during the season, Ferrari already have a driver waiting in the wings. During the Sky Sports Italia broadcast of the first Practice session of the weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix, Roberto Chinchero said Oliver Bearman is a ‘strong backup option’ for Ferrari.

Chinchero said, “Well, I think it’s more a matter of Ferrari needing to renew him than Hamilton needing a new contract. As you rightly pointed out, Ferrari also has a strong backup option in Bearman, so I don’t think they’ll struggle to find a good driver.

“However, if Hamilton is the driver we saw in Melbourne compared to last year, that changes things a lot – it changes the whole picture.”

Charles Leclerc will find that Lewis Hamilton is ‘unbeatable’

At the Chinese Grand Prix, Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve was thrilled to see a more ‘positive’ Hamilton after Qualifying in third place on Saturday afternoon.

The Canadian driver also sent a warning to Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, as he labelled Hamilton as ‘almost unbeatable.. He’s older, he’s got a lot of experience but he still has that energy.’

Villeneuve went on to talk about how Hamilton and Leclerc will not ‘help each other’ as they are both competing to beat each other rather than the Mercedes drivers.

He added, ‘Look how aggressive they were towards each other. Each of those two drivers is trying to be the Ferrari man, to write history. There’s no helping each other.’