Ferrari told it already has 'ready-made' Hamilton replacement

Ferrari has been told that it has a ready-made replacement for Lewis Hamilton. 

Hamilton will switch to Ferrari from Mercedes for next season, becoming the first full-time British racer for the Scuderia since Eddie Irvine in 1999.

Bearman, a Ferrari protégé became the first Briton since Irvine to race for the team in F1 when he deputised for an appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP, finishing seventh on his debut. 

The 19-year-old has since driven in Azerbaijan and Brazil for Haas in place of the suspended and then ill Kevin Magnussen, scoring one point in Baku, and is set to partner Esteban Ocon at the team next season.

Bearman is set to remain a Ferrari young driver, with three-time grand prix winner Johnny Herbert believing that when Hamilton eventually retires from F1, the teenager would be a seamless transition.

"For me, the thing that proved what he could achieve was in Brazil, a circuit he had never been to before," Herbert told Vision4Sport.

"It is a tricky circuit, and he was pretty much on top of it, he went to the top of the leaderboard in Friday practice, and in two laps was on top of the board.

"He seems to be able to adapt and show speed. That is a really good sign for next year which is going to be important for him at Haas to try and dominate Ocon. 

"That is exciting as it’s another Brit and potentially down the line with his relationship with Ferrari, who knows, he could be joining Ferrari at the end of Lewis’ time there, whenever that may be. 

“So, there is a good replacement already there and Ferrari are very aware that he is someone they want to give a chance to when the opportunity arises."