Ralf Schumacher has spelled out exactly who he thinks should be sitting in red overalls once Lewis Hamilton’s contract runs out.
Speaking on his Backstage Boxengasse podcast on Sky Germany, Schumacher argued that the newest world champion in the field is already quicker than both Ferrari drivers.
“To be quite honest, I believe that Kimi Antonelli would run circles around Leclerc and Hamilton, that’s just how it is,” he said.
Antonelli sealed the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 2 November, finishing third at 20 years and 68 days to become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. The Mercedes driver is also the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and he clinched it with four races still to run.
Bearman next in the queue
Schumacher’s preferred long-term successor at Maranello is Oliver Bearman, the Ferrari academy driver who has spent 2026 racing for Haas.
“I think it will be decided next year who will get the chance at Ferrari,” he said on the same podcast, naming Bearman and fellow Ferrari junior Rafael Camara as the candidates with the ceiling to one day win a world title of their own.
Bearman’s own 2027 deal with Haas is still unsigned, despite both sides saying publicly they want to continue. Ferrari’s involvement in his management, and his longer-term ambition of a seat at the Scuderia in 2028, are the issues slowing the renewal.
Schumacher was blunter about the man currently in that seat, pointing to Hamilton’s age without naming a specific performance deficit.
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“I find it hard to believe that someone in their early 40s can still be as good as someone in their prime between 20 and 30,” he said.
Hamilton turned 41 in January.
Hamilton’s own numbers
The on-track picture is less damning than the age argument suggests. Hamilton sits fourth in the 2026 standings on 261 points after the Brazilian Grand Prix, one point adrift of George Russell in third. He has a win at Barcelona-Catalunya and seven podiums to his name this year.
His contract tells the same story. Back in May, Hamilton confirmed to Sky Sports that his Ferrari deal runs at least to the end of 2027, and he used the same interview to push back on the growing speculation about his future.
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“There’s a lot of people that are trying to retire me, and that’s not even all my thoughts,” he told the broadcaster.
That interview was given six months before Antonelli’s title win and before Schumacher’s latest podcast remarks. Hamilton has not publicly addressed the comments.
Ferrari’s next race is the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 21 November, with Qatar on 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 6 December closing out the 2026 season.
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