Former Haas team principal, Guenther Steiner, has expressed his belief that Lewis Hamilton’s tenure at Ferrari might be shortened due to his underwhelming performance in his debut season with the team. Steiner, aged 60, has suggested that young talent Oliver Bearman could eventually take over from Hamilton before the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Speculation surrounding Hamilton’s future has intensified following his lackluster start at Ferrari. Should Hamilton’s form continue to disappoint into the next season, Steiner envisions the seven-time world champion’s association with the Italian outfit could be curtailed prematurely.
Bearman, who has a background with Ferrari after substituting for Carlos Sainz at the previous season’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, has recently impressed with Haas after joining Ferrari’s Driving Academy in 2022.
Amid ongoing discussions about a potential successor to Hamilton, Steiner concurs with the notion that Bearman could step into the role. During an episode of ‘Gas or Brake’ on The Red Flags podcast, Steiner enthusiastically endorsed Bearman as a replacement for Hamilton based on his remarkable performances and steady improvement throughout the season.
The young driver’s recent achievements include scoring points in his last four races and closing in on overtaking Isack Hadjar and Nico Hulkenberg in the Drivers’ Championship Standings. Despite Bearman’s success, Ferrari has faced a challenging season with no victories in 2025, while Hamilton is yet to secure a podium finish after 21 races. In contrast, Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, has clinched seven podiums, a feat surpassed only by Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen.
Steiner’s sentiments are shared by Sky Sports F1 pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz, who firmly believes in Bearman’s inevitable promotion to Ferrari. Speaking on The F1 Show, Kravitz expressed certainty that Bearman would eventually step into Hamilton’s shoes at Ferrari.
Despite the ongoing speculation, Hamilton has hinted at a prolonged stay with Ferrari, citing his existing contract and a lack of immediate plans for departure. The Formula 1 fans’ access to live coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle is highlighted as a new offer, including over 100 TV channels, and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.