Following a disappointing first season in red, Lewis Hamilton is under increasing pressure at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion arrived in Maranello amid high expectations, but his debut campaign failed to produce the expected results.
With his race seat contract set to expire at the end of 2026, questions about his long-term future are intensifying, and it seems that Ferrari is preparing a contingency plan. That plan has a clear name: Oliver Bearman.
Ferrari is looking to the future
Ferrari Driver Academy member and current Haas F1 driver, Oliver Bearman, is coming off the back of an impressive first full season in Formula 1 with the US team. Partnered with Esteban Ocon, the young Briton has consistently demonstrated maturity, speed and adaptability beyond his years. His performances have not gone unnoticed inside the paddock, especially in Maranello.
Ferrari is well aware that Hamilton has not lived up to expectations in his first year with the Scuderia. While the team continues to publicly support its star signing, internal evaluations are inevitable. In this context, Bearman is a highly attractive option: he is young, he is home-grown, and he is already familiar with Ferrari’s culture and expectations.
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Bearman has confirmed that he is in regular contact with Maranello
Bearman has confirmed that he is already in regular contact with Ferrari, adding further fuel to speculation about a future promotion. However, he insists that these conversations are not about replacing Hamilton, at least not yet.
“We meet from time to time to discuss the challenges I face during my F1 season. It’s simply an open dialogue, really,” he explained.
“I like to clarify what’s happening on my end, because it’s easy to only see the results on paper. But that doesn’t always reflect the full picture.”
According to Bearman, Ferrari is currently more interested in his development than his immediate future.
“As for my future, we don’t talk about it. I’m just focused on driving the car. I think the rest will sort itself out if I perform well,” he added.
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Preparing for the new era
One key element in these discussions is the future of Formula 1 itself. With major regulatory changes on the horizon, Ferrari is keen to ensure that its young drivers are technically and mentally prepared for the next era of the sport.
“No positive or negative comments. It’s an open discussion,” Bearman continued.
“We talk about the challenges I face. The future and the new regulations are also important. I have the same engine they will have.”
Bearman also acknowledged that Ferrari has pushed him to improve in certain areas, which he views as a natural part of his progression.
‘There have been times when they have wanted me to improve in specific areas. But for me, it was obvious that this would come with experience and time.”
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Hamilton’s future under scrutiny
For Hamilton, the message is clear: nothing at Ferrari is guaranteed. While he is one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, Ferrari has never hesitated to look ahead.
If results do not improve significantly before 2026, the pressure to make a bold decision could become overwhelming. Waiting patiently in the wings is Oliver Bearman, talented, ambitious and already very much on Ferrari’s radar.
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How competitive he will be in Formula 1’s new era, which begins in 2026, depends largely on one decisive factor: the power unit developed by Red Bull Powertrains in partnership with Ford.
Although the four-time world champion has dominated recent seasons, the sweeping regulation changes for 2026 mean that nothing can be taken for granted. Now, a technical controversy is adding extra tension to the countdown.
Rumours are fuelling growing tensions in the paddock
Formula 1 appears to be heading towards a new technical dispute. Rumours are circulating in the paddock that Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains/Ford may have found a way to boost their power units’ performance without formally breaching the regulations. According to rival manufacturers, this alleged ‘trick’ could deliver a substantial power boost under the 2026 ruleset.
At the heart of the discussion is the engine’s compression ratio. For 2026, the FIA has set a static compression ratio of 16:1, measured at ambient temperature during scrutineering. However, critics claim that certain manufacturers may be exploiting thermal expansion during engine operation to effectively raise that ratio when the engine is running at full temperature…READ MORE
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
