Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari – that just doesn’t quite work out in Formula 1 yet. Given the superstar’s mixed performance, rumors about a successor are already doing the rounds. Hamilton reacts clearly.
Lewis Hamilton has cleared up speculation that he could leave Ferrari early and his cockpit will go to Haas rookie Oliver Bearman.
The Formula 1 record champion emphasized on the sidelines of the Sao Paulo GP in Interlagos that he has a “pretty long contract” with Scuderia.
“Normally, when you sign a contract, you only start talking about an extension the year before. I’m still pretty far away from that at the moment,” said Hamilton.
The 40-year-old’s working paper reportedly runs until at least the end of 2026; Ferrari has only made public that the seven-time world champion has a “multi-year contract”.
Formula 1: Bearman has already impressed in a Ferrari
After Bearman’s career best performance in Mexico (fourth place), the Italian media fueled rumors that Ferrari could bring in the Briton as Hamilton’s successor in the medium term.
Bearman has a Ferrari background, was once part of the Reds’ youth academy and was already impressive in 2024 as a replacement for Ferrari regular driver Carlos Sainz, who had an appendectomy at the time.
Hamilton admitted that switching from Mercedes to the Ferrari car was harder than he thought. But he is confident: “I think we have definitely made progress in the last few months.”
In the sprint qualifying in Sao Paulo, Hamilton had to digest the next setback: he only finished eleventh, stable rival Charles Leclerc wasn’t that much better in eighth place.
Hamilton, who won his first world title at Interlagos in 2008 (at that time still driving a McLaren), is still hoping for a good weekend. “This is the first time I’m driving for Ferrari here. Their car looked pretty good here last year. I don’t know how it will feel this time but I’m obviously hoping for a good result,” he said.