Ralf Schumacher says it is time for Lewis Hamilton to leave Formula 1 at the end of the year and for Ferrari to give Oliver Bearman a chance in the red car.
The comments came after Hamilton finished sixth at the Miami Grand Prix, a result that sat awkwardly beside Charles Leclerc’s 20-second penalty after the race. Hamilton’s start to life at Ferrari had seemed encouraging, but his level has clearly dipped in recent races, and some of that struggle traces back to Ferrari not addressing his concerns during last month’s five-week break.
Schumacher made his case during an appearance on Backstage Boxengasse, arguing that Hamilton has had a great run in the sport but that the time has come to open the door for younger drivers. He said Bearman deserves the chance to sit in a Ferrari and believed the young driver could compete with Leclerc if given the opportunity.
That view cuts against Ferrari’s present stance. The team is still not ready to move away from Hamilton and Leclerc, and Schumacher said Ferrari want to keep the brand of Hamilton while a wave of promising Formula 2 talent waits for a break. Bearman has already said he is ready to join Ferrari, which only sharpens the contrast between a team guarding its present and a paddock pushing toward its future.
For Hamilton, the immediate concern is not the long view but the drop in performance that followed an encouraging opening. For Ferrari, the question is whether loyalty to its current pairing can survive the pressure from results, from its own unmet concerns, and from drivers like Bearman who are already asking for the seat.
