Johnny Herbert believes that Ferrari already has a successor lined up for Lewis Hamilton when the F1 legend chooses to retire.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that Ferrari already has a successor for Lewis Hamilton in Ollie Bearman, should the Brit choose to retire in the future. The promising young talent is set to make his full-time F1 debut with Haas next season, partnering with Esteban Ocon.
Fortunately, Bearman has had the opportunity to race in F1 this season with three appearances serving as a short-term replacement for Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen. He stepped in for Sainz early on in Jeddah when the Spaniard underwent an emergency appendix surgery. Additionally, he filled in for Magnussen twice with the American team.
Bearman delivered outstanding performances in all these events, capturing everyone’s attention compared to Nico Hulkenberg, who is universally regarded as highly talented.
Given the driver’s affiliation with Ferrari and his remarkable performance, there are speculations that he might soon be donning the iconic scarlet colors. According to PlanetF1, Johnny Herbert shares this sentiment, suggesting that Ferrari already has a potential successor lined up for Lewis Hamilton. He commented:
He appears to adapt quickly and demonstrate impressive speed, which bodes well for next year. This will be crucial as he aims to outshine Ocon at Haas. It’s thrilling because he’s another talented Briton, and given his connection with Ferrari, the future holds exciting possibilities.
He mentioned further,
“He might join Ferrari when Lewis’s tenure concludes—whenever that happens. Thus, a strong replacement is already in consideration, and Ferrari recognizes him as someone they want to give an opportunity to when the chance comes.”
Johnny Herbert believes that Lewis Hamilton’s main reason for joining Ferrari would be to hit the ground running. He wants to avoid starting the season already at a disadvantage. Expressing confidence in the British driver’s ability, Herbert remarked:
Lewis aims to start strong and confidently. Does he still have what it takes? I believe so. For Lewis Hamilton, it’s a new experience. His relationship with Fred Vasseur, the Ferrari team boss, will be positive and beneficial for the team; he holds him in high regard.
He went on to say,
“Meanwhile, handling Charles simultaneously will be a strong motivator for him. Motivation is key for the driver. Given Ferrari’s current position, they should have an excellent start. They need to make some adjustments to maintain overall consistency, but the car has enough speed to win races as Charles has demonstrated.”
Lewis Hamilton has signed a 2+1 contract with Ferrari, allowing him the option to either extend his racing career into 2027 or retire after the initial period concludes in 2026. His partnership with the Italian team kicks off in 2025, and all attention will be focused on how this F1 veteran performs.
