F1 Live: Hamilton's Ferrari Future, Teams Postpone Holiday
Ferrari faces a significant dilemma over its 2025 driver lineup, as Oliver Bearman's impressive performances are putting pressure on the team, according to Juan Pablo Montoya. Meanwhile, the 2025 Formula 1 season will be extended beyond its final race in Abu Dhabi to accommodate a mandatory post-season Pirelli tire test for all teams, disrupting typical holiday plans and highlighting ongoing development efforts.
Rumors are swirling around Ferrari's driver lineup for 2025, with Juan Pablo Montoya suggesting Oliver Bearman's impressive performances could create a difficult decision for the Scuderia. Meanwhile, the 2025 Formula 1 season is set to be extended beyond Abu Dhabi, as all teams are required to participate in a post-season Pirelli tire test.
Why it matters:
Ferrari faces a crucial juncture regarding its future driver pairings, especially with the highly anticipated arrival of Lewis Hamilton. The emergence of a strong young talent like Bearman adds another layer of complexity, potentially forcing the team to make tough choices about experienced drivers who aren't delivering. On another front, the extended F1 season highlights the continuous development cycle in the sport, even with significant regulation changes looming in 2026.
The details:
- Bearman's Impact: Juan Pablo Montoya believes Oliver Bearman's strong rookie showings could pressure Ferrari. He noted, "Ollie Bearman has done a very good job recently, it will be interesting to see what Ferrari decide to do with him."
- Ferrari's Dilemma: Montoya specifically pointed out the contrast: "You have this young kid performing whilst Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are not performing." This puts Ferrari in a tight spot, considering Hamilton's high-profile move and Leclerc's established role.
- Extended 2025 Season: The 2025 F1 season will officially extend beyond the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A mandatory Pirelli tire test is scheduled two days after the final race, requiring participation from all Formula 1 teams.
- Unexpected Test: Initially, it was believed that no post-season tests would occur in 2025 due to the complete overhaul of technical regulations for the 2026 season. However, this has changed.
- Driver Participation: The post-season test in Abu Dhabi will include rookies as part of the Young Driver Test, while current Grand Prix drivers are slated to participate in the Pirelli tire test.
The big picture:
The F1 grid is experiencing a wave of talented young drivers who are making strong cases for permanent seats, challenging established veterans. This dynamic creates both excitement and difficult decisions for teams like Ferrari, who must balance experience with fresh talent. Additionally, the extended 2025 season underscores Pirelli's ongoing commitment to tire development, even as the sport prepares for a monumental regulatory shift in 2026.
What's next:
The pressure will be on Ferrari to carefully manage its driver lineup in the coming months, with decisions on Bearman's future and the performance of its current and incoming stars under intense scrutiny. Meanwhile, teams will need to adjust their post-season plans to accommodate the mandatory Pirelli test, ensuring they maximize data collection ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, even if the current car generation will be obsolete. The F1 paddock will continue to buzz with speculation on these fronts.