The script was supposed to be perfect. It was meant to be the glorious final act of the greatest career in Formula 1 history: Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, clad in the iconic scarlet of Ferrari, bringing the championship back to Maranello.

It was the “dream move” that captured the imagination of the entire sporting world. But as we look back on the wreckage of the 2025 season and look ahead to an uncertain future, the dream has dissolved into a stark, brutal reality. The honeymoon is over, and the divorce papers might already be drafted in the minds of the Tifosi.

Reports emerging from Italy suggest that the relationship between Hamilton and the Prancing Horse is straining under the weight of dashed expectations. More shockingly, whispers from the paddock indicate that Ferrari is not just looking for a solution to Hamilton’s struggles—they are already eyeing his replacement.

And it’s not a seasoned veteran or a rival superstar. It is a 20-year-old homegrown sensation who has spent the last year proving he is ready to seize the throne.

The Brutal Reality of the Stopwatch

To understand why the panic button is being pressed so firmly in Maranello, one only needs to look at the scoreboard. The 2025 season was, by Hamilton’s own admission, a “nightmare.” For the first time in his illustrious career, the British legend completed a full season without standing on the top step of a Grand Prix podium. His solitary sprint race victory in China stands as a lonely beacon in a sea of mediocrity.

Finishing a distant sixth in the Drivers’ Championship is one thing, but the internal battle is where reputations are truly forged or shattered. Charles Leclerc, driving the exact same machinery, ended the year with seven podiums and a staggering 86-point advantage over Hamilton. In the ruthless world of Formula 1, an 86-point gap to your teammate isn’t just a defeat; it’s a demolition.

The performance deficit has sent the rumor mill into overdrive. While Team Principal Fred Vasseur has publicly attempted to calm the waters, stating, “We need to improve our collaboration with Lewis,” the silence behind closed doors is deafening. Sources inside Maranello suggest the strain is palpable. The car wasn’t perfect, yes, but Leclerc made it sing while Hamilton struggled to find the key.

The Contract Bombshell vs. The Exit Strategy

Until recently, the assumption was that Hamilton’s tenure was secure based on paper. Leaks from the respected German outlet Bild have revealed that Hamilton’s deal reportedly runs through the end of the 2027 season, with an option to extend to 2028. By that time, Hamilton would be 43 years old. The financial commitment from Ferrari is equally staggering, with a reported salary north of $55 million annually.

However, in F1, contracts are often worth less than the paper they are printed on if the lap times don’t match the pay grade. Quiet whispers are growing louder that if the 2026 challenger isn’t an immediate front-runner, Hamilton could choose to walk away early, retiring at the end of this season rather than enduring another year of midfield obscurity.

If that scenario unfolds—or if Ferrari decides to cut their losses—the team has a contingency plan that is rapidly becoming Plan A.

Enter the Prodigy: Oliver Bearman

Waiting in the wings is Oliver “Ollie” Bearman, the 20-year-old British sensation who has taken the F1 world by storm. A product of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Bearman represents the ideal future for the Scuderia: young, fast, and molded entirely within their system.

Bearman’s rookie season in 2025 with Haas was nothing short of meteoric. While finishing 13th in the championship might not sound headline-grabbing to the casual observer, those in the know understand the magnitude of his achievement. Driving a midfield car, he scored 41 points and completely eclipsed his teammate, the Grand Prix winner Esteban Ocon.

Bearman didn’t just learn; he evolved. He became the first Haas driver in history to score points in five consecutive races. But it was one specific Sunday in Mexico City that truly announced his arrival as a future world champion.

The Mexican Masterclass

If there was a moment that convinced the Ferrari brass that Bearman was ready, it was the Mexican Grand Prix. High altitude, low grip, and tire management critical—it is a circuit that punishes inexperience. Starting from ninth on the grid, Bearman drove a race that defied his age.

He managed his tires with the touch of a veteran, executing a flawless strategy that saw him climb through the field. In the dying laps, he found himself in fourth place, with the Mercedes of George Russell breathing down his neck. The pressure was immense. A rookie in a Haas holding off a Mercedes is usually a short story.

Instead, Bearman produced a defensive masterclass. Lap after lap, he placed his car exactly where it needed to be, making zero mistakes under withering pressure. He held off Russell to secure a P4 finish that felt like a victory. It was a drive defined by “race intelligence”—a quality that usually takes years to develop. Bearman showed he has it now.

The Expert Verdict: “The Door Should Be Open”

The hype around Bearman isn’t just fan speculation; it is backed by the most respected voices in the sport. Guenther Steiner, the former Haas boss known for his blunt honesty, didn’t hesitate when naming his Rookie of the Year.

“For me, it’s Ollie Bearman,” Steiner said, noting how the young driver flipped a switch halfway through the season. “I think for him the door should be open to Ferrari for 2027… If Lewis hasn’t got the success he needs, I don’t think he continues. And then there is the obvious candidate.”

But perhaps the most significant endorsement comes from Jock Clear. As the veteran engineer who headed the Ferrari Driver Academy and has worked with legends like Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve, and Hamilton himself, Clear knows exactly what a champion looks like.

In a recent interview, when asked if Bearman could win at the highest level, Clear’s answer was chillingly confident: “At the moment, I see no reason why Ollie Bearman cannot become a World Champion.”

Clear highlighted Bearman’s ceiling—or lack thereof. “With Ollie, I have not yet seen anything that makes me think he cannot make it.” For a man of Clear’s experience to speak with such certainty is rare. He pointed out that Bearman was “almost always just that little bit faster” than Ocon, proving he isn’t just beating weak opposition; he is outperforming established winners.

A Homegrown Future

The allure of Bearman for Ferrari goes beyond just speed. He represents a seamless transition. Unlike bringing in an external superstar like Max Verstappen or Lando Norris, there would be no culture shock with Bearman. He knows the team. He knows the systems. He speaks the language of Maranello.

Pairing him with Charles Leclerc would create a lineup built entirely from within—a “super-team” of Ferrari Academy graduates. It would signal a long-term vision, a belief in their own pipeline, and a partnership that could dominate the next decade.

The Clock is Ticking

The pieces are falling into place with terrifying precision. Hamilton’s form is waning, his patience likely wearing thin. The “dream” is fading. Meanwhile, Bearman is ascending, endorsed by legends and proving his worth on the tarmac every race weekend.

The question is no longer if Oliver Bearman will drive for Ferrari, but when. And if the whispers from Italy are true, the changing of the guard could happen much sooner than anyone expects. The 2026 season may well be Hamilton’s final lap, and waiting at the finish line is the 20-year-old who is ready to take the keys.