Ferrari weigh future as Hamilton questions grow

January 9, 2026 Oliver Obel

Ferrari are approaching a pivotal crossroads as Formula One prepares for a sweeping regulatory reset in 2026. Central to that uncertainty is whether Lewis Hamilton, one of the sport’s most decorated figures, still fits into the team’s long-term vision.

Hamilton’s arrival from Mercedes ahead of the 2025 season was framed as the final piece in Ferrari’s championship puzzle. Instead, his debut year in red has forced the team to confront uncomfortable realities far sooner than expected.

A season that shifted expectations

The seven-time world champion endured a campaign that fell well short of the ambitions attached to his move. Hamilton finished sixth in the drivers’ standings, a result that marked a sharp contrast with the title challenge many had anticipated.

More notably, he ended the year without a single Grand Prix podium the first time that has happened across his Formula One career. Within the paddock, that statistic alone has become symbolic of how quickly momentum slipped away.

Unease inside Maranello

Italian journalist Leo Turrini reported in Quotidiano Nazionale that doubts surrounding Hamilton’s future at Ferrari have “multiplied” and even “exploded” in recent months. While Ferrari have made no public statements to that effect, the gap to teammate Charles Leclerc has reportedly sharpened internal debate.

The 2026 rules overhaul offers Hamilton a potential reset, but Ferrari’s leadership appears wary of tying their post-regulation strategy entirely to a driver approaching the twilight of his career.

Succession planning underway

Against that backdrop, Ferrari have begun to consider alternatives should a change become unavoidable.

Oliver Bearman has emerged as the leading internal option. The British driver impressed during his first full Formula One season with Haas, scoring 41 points and finishing 13th overall narrowly outperforming experienced teammate Esteban Ocon. As a graduate of Ferrari’s driver academy, Bearman represents continuity as well as long-term upside.

Another name on Ferrari’s radar is Rafael Camara. The reigning Formula 3 champion will step up to Formula 2 in 2026, and team principal Fred Vasseur is understood to be a strong admirer of the Brazilian’s potential. Even so, a more gradual route to Formula One, possibly with a midfield outfit, is viewed as the likelier path.

External possibilities and constraints

Ferrari are also thought to be monitoring the wider driver market. Tensions at McLaren have not gone unnoticed, with Oscar Piastri and reigning 2025 champion Lando Norris both theoretically attractive options.

Norris, however, committed his long-term future to McLaren prior to the 2024 season, making any move improbable. Piastri is under contract until 2028, though, as is common in Formula One, industry observers believe exit clauses could exist should circumstances align.

A decision that defines Ferrari’s next era

For now, Ferrari’s public stance remains unchanged. Hamilton is their driver, and the focus is on extracting performance. Privately, however, the combination of disappointing results and an imminent regulation reset has ensured that nothing is being taken for granted.

Whether Hamilton can reclaim momentum or whether Ferrari decide to turn the page may ultimately define how the Scuderia enter Formula One’s next era.

Sources: Quotidiano Nazionale