Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s tenure at Ferrari could be in jeopardy following a lackluster debut season. Steiner, aged 60, has expressed his belief that up-and-coming talent Oliver Bearman could potentially step into Hamilton’s shoes before the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The discussion surrounding Hamilton’s future has intensified due to his underwhelming performance since joining Ferrari. Steiner has indicated that if Hamilton’s struggles persist into the next season, there may be an early end to the seven-time world champion’s association with the renowned Italian team.
Bearman, who previously filled in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix last season, has been making waves at Haas after joining Ferrari’s Driving Academy in 2022. Steiner, along with others in the F1 community, sees Bearman as a strong contender to eventually replace Hamilton.
During a segment on ‘The Red Flags podcast,’ Steiner endorsed Bearman as a potential replacement for Hamilton if the latter fails to deliver next season. He praised Bearman’s recent performances, highlighting his improvement over the course of the year.
With Bearman impressively scoring points in his last four races and closing in on rivals in the Drivers’ Championship Standings, Ferrari’s season has been mixed. Despite Hamilton’s struggle to secure a podium finish after 21 races, his teammate Charles Leclerc has managed to clinch seven podium places.
Ted Kravitz, a Sky Sports F1 pitlane reporter, shares Steiner’s sentiments about Bearman’s future at Ferrari. Kravitz believes that Bearman’s promotion to the Ferrari team is inevitable, emphasizing the young driver’s potential to succeed Hamilton.
Although the rumors about Hamilton’s potential departure persist, the British driver has hinted that he is committed to Ferrari for the foreseeable future, citing his existing contract. Hamilton’s comments suggest that any decision regarding his future is still some time away.
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