Senior paddock rumors: Ferrari already made up their mind on Hamilton

October 31, 2025 Oliver Obel

When Hamilton announced in February 2024 that he would leave Mercedes to join Ferrari, it was hailed as one of the most dramatic driver transfers in the sport’s history. For Ferrari, signing the most successful driver in Formula One was a statement of intent — a declaration that the team intended to return to championship contention.

But reality has been far less romantic. Despite flashes of pace, including a strong run in Mexico cut short by a ten-second penalty for exceeding track limits, Hamilton has yet to score a Grand Prix podium this season, according to FIA race data.

His only win came in the Sprint Race at the Chinese Grand Prix — a brief reminder of his brilliance in a year otherwise defined by frustration. Ferrari’s SF-25 has often lacked the consistency and race pace needed to challenge the front-runners, leaving Hamilton battling outside the top three far more often than he expected.

For a driver who spent over a decade at Mercedes fighting for titles, it’s been a humbling adjustment — and the fairytale return to form he envisioned has yet to materialize.

A rising star steals the spotlight

While Hamilton continues to search for rhythm, another Ferrari-linked driver has emerged as a potential successor. At the Mexican Grand Prix, 20-year-old Haas rookie Oliver Bearman produced one of the most impressive drives of the season, finishing fourth and equalling Haas’s best-ever result in Formula One.

As Bearman stepped out of the car and watched his father and girlfriend embrace in the pit lane, the emotion on his face told the story. “It’s very special,” he told Dutch broadcaster ViaPlay, choking back tears. “You didn’t need to show me her! Now I’m emotional.”

An early mix-up among front-runners briefly put Bearman in podium contention. Although Verstappen’s alternate strategy eventually pushed him back to fourth, Bearman’s pace and composure impressed everyone in the paddock — not least Ferrari, whose academy he represents.

What's even more impressive about Bearman's performance in Mexico, is that the young Brit had to give up his seat for FP1 due to the F1 sporting regulations that mandate teams to let rookies run twixe in each car during the season. This is Bearman's first full season, but lst season, he actually took part in three grand prix's (standing in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Kevin Magnussen at Haas), meaning he is not concidered af rookie.

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur praised Bearman’s performance, saying, “At one stage, I was thinking about a podium for him. He made zero mistakes and put everything together.”

It was a reminder that while Ferrari’s present may be turbulent, the future could be brighter. Bearman’s debut for Ferrari in 2024 as a stand-in for Carlos Sainz hinted at his potential, but Mexico confirmed it. As Vasseur later noted, “He’s paying off.”

Cracks at maranello

Behind the scenes, though, Ferrari faces mounting pressure. The team is on track for its third winless season in a decade — a stunning reality for the sport’s most storied constructor.

Chairman John Elkann recently issued a public vote of confidence in Vasseur, the architect of Hamilton’s signing, but speculation about Ferrari’s direction hasn’t gone away. Reports linking the team to former Red Bull boss Christian Horner — which ESPN says are unfounded — reflect the growing impatience around Maranello’s leadership.

Uncertainty has also spread to Ferrari’s other star, Charles Leclerc. Italian media have suggested that Leclerc and his agent Nicolas Todt may consider options outside Ferrari after his contract expires in 2026, depending on how competitive the team becomes under new regulations.

Losing Leclerc — the homegrown talent dubbed Il Predestinato (“The Predestined”) — would be a symbolic and reputational blow. It would also leave Ferrari scrambling to rebuild both its driver lineup and its identity.

Senior Paddock rumors on Hamilton’s Future

Amid all that turbulence, the biggest question concerns Hamilton himself. According to senior paddock figures cited by ESPN, Ferrari is unlikely to extend his contract beyond 2026.

The Briton does have an option to stay on for 2027, but insiders say communication breakdowns and frustrations over development direction have strained the partnership. Hamilton’s feedback reportedly hasn’t translated into the technical gains he expected, and the relationship with his race engineer has been under scrutiny.

Sources suggest both sides could agree to part ways after next season — a decision that would mark the end of one of the sport’s most ambitious driver-team pairings. Such a move could also open the door for Bearman, whose rapid rise is already being closely watched within Ferrari.

If the rumors prove true, it would be a rare case of Ferrari moving on from a driver of Hamilton’s stature — but in Formula One, sentiment counts for little when results don’t match expectations.

A team caught between eras

Ferrari’s Mexico weekend felt symbolic: Hamilton struggling to extract performance from the car that was supposed to revive his title hopes, while a fearless rookie showed what might be next.

For Ferrari’s management, that contrast underscores a bigger dilemma — how to honor a legend’s contract while preparing for the next generation. Bearman, Antonelli, and a handful of rising talents are giving the Scuderia fresh hope that the future could be theirs again.

Still, for now, Hamilton remains the face of Ferrari’s present — and the man expected to lead the team into F1’s new era in 2026. Whether he’ll be there beyond that remains uncertain.

Hope or farewell?

Hamilton has said repeatedly that 2026 — when Formula One’s new technical regulations take effect — was always the year he expected to be competitive again. If Ferrari delivers a stronger package, redemption is still possible.

But if the struggles continue, this chapter could end sooner than anyone expected. Either way, Mexico offered a snapshot of Ferrari’s crossroads: a fading icon fighting to rekindle his spark, and a fearless young driver showing the tifosi what the next era might look like.

Sources: ESPN, Reuters, BBC, FIA, ViaPlay