Hamilton Suggests Ferrari Might Need a Replacement

According to recent reports, Johnny Herbert, a former F1 racer, doesn’t foresee Max Verstappen accepting a proposition to take over Lewis Hamilton’s position at Ferrari.

The 2025 season has presented challenges for both Formula 1 champions. Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari hasn’t yielded anticipated results, with the British driver yet to secure a podium finish this year.

A further point of concern for Hamilton is the comparatively strong performance of his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.

Nevertheless, Ferrari holds the second position in the team standings, trailing McLaren, whose performance currently surpasses all others.

Verstappen, the current titleholder, has also faced difficulties. After 14 races, he trails championship frontrunner Oscar Piastri (284) significantly with a score of 187 points.

Following a disappointing 12th-place finish and qualifying round at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the British driver expressed his frustration, deeming himself ‘useless’ and suggesting to his Ferrari team that ‘they probably need to change driver.’

This outburst in front of the media has spurred discussions about his potential retirement. However, Herbert believes that even if this occurs, a partnership between Max Verstappen and Ferrari is improbable.

Herbert stated, “I don’t anticipate Verstappen’s arrival. Ferrari might consider a younger talent (like Bearman, a Ferrari Driver Academy member) or potentially bring back Sainz, considering I’ve heard he would always be open to a call from Ferrari.”

“Although he’s encountering more difficulties than anticipated at Williams currently, he showcased considerable strength at Ferrari, performing on par with Leclerc. Moreover, Sainz remains relatively young.”