The Battle to Succeed Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari Heats Up as Haas Becomes an All-Academy Testing Ground
With Lewis Hamilton contracted to Ferrari through at least 2027 and Charles Leclerc secured on a long-term commitment running into the next decade, Maranello’s medium-term succession plan is officially taking shape.
While Hamilton has enjoyed a steady rebound in his 2026 campaign following a turbulent debut season in scarlet, persistent internal friction and strategic misfires have kept speculation alive regarding what the post-Hamilton era might look like. Now, that succession race has zeroed in on a direct, intra-team showdown at Haas.
An All-Academy Audition at Haas
For most of 2026, British talent Oliver Bearman stood as Hamilton’s presumed heir apparent. Plying his trade with Haas and contracted through the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) through the end of 2027, the 21-year-old Chelmsford native seemed poised to claim a senior Maranello seat the moment Hamilton decides to hang up his helmet.
That dynamic shifted dramatically with Haas’ decision to move on from Esteban Ocon and confirm 21-year-old Brazilian sensation Rafael Câmara on a multi-year deal beginning next season.
While Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has pushed back against critics labeling his squad a “Ferrari B-team,” the garage dynamic will function as a live audition for the biggest prize in Italian motorsport. As Giorgio Burreddu recently observed in La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“Everyone knows Lewis Hamilton won’t be able to race forever. And two know it better than anyone: Rafael Camara and Oliver Bearman. Young champions are growing up. Their long-term goal is to compete for a place at Ferrari, with the hope that Lewis’ seat will become a veritable throne for one of them.”
The Rise of Câmara: A “Racing Phenomenon”
Câmara’s rapid elevation through the junior feeder series—claiming back-to-back rookie titles in FRECA and Formula 3 before taking the lead in the Formula 2 championship—already made him an obvious prospect. However, it was a private F1 test in Portimão that convinced Haas and Ferrari management of his generational raw talent.
Komatsu spoke of the young Brazilian’s adaptability in glowing terms:
“It was really incredible the feeling he has got to understand the grip level—and adjust to all the conditions. In cool conditions, he set a pretty impressive lap time. Then the conditions got worse so the car becomes more difficult to drive—but he didn’t panic at all.“He just drove to the conditions. Then there was a four-hour gap and the conditions were different again. He started with a pretty good lap time—and then had two more runs. The rate of improvement was just incredible.”
Crucially, Bearman was also present during that test in Portugal as a baseline benchmark, meaning the Briton witnessed Câmara’s pace firsthand.
Bearman’s Standing and the 2028 Horizon
Despite the buzz surrounding his incoming teammate, Bearman remains highly regarded by both Haas and Maranello. His wheel-to-wheel racecraft—highlighted by aggressive, clean overtakes at Singapore—and his infectious garage presence have solidified his standing within the team.
“It’s a matter of time, but it’s not fully under my control,” Komatsu noted regarding Bearman’s formal contract extension. “He’s such a great guy to work with. His speed is totally clear… The conviction he has, the accuracy he has—it’s just brilliant.”
With Hamilton nearing the twilight of an extraordinary career and Ferrari seeking stability alongside Leclerc, the coming season offers Bearman and Câmara a rare proving ground: direct parity in identical machinery, where the victor could very well secure the keys to the most coveted seat in Formula 1.