Former Red Bull and Aston Martin chief engineer Dan Fellows believes significant changes in the Formula 1 driver market in the coming years will depend on Lewis Hamilton’s decision.

The seven-time world champion had a difficult first season with Ferrari, failing to reach the podium once in all 24 Grands Prix. For the first time in his career, Hamilton finished a season without finishing in the top three.

Amid these difficulties, suggestions have emerged that the Briton could retire from Formula 1 after the 2026 season.

Fellows said Hamilton would not want to stay in the championship unless he had a competitive car.

Fellows said: “I believe Hamilton is the key figure in the driver market. It is easy to compare him to Fernando Alonso; although last season was difficult for him, he is still capable of performing at a high level.” he said.

Fellowes added: “Lewis wants to be competitive. He wants a car that can win races. If he doesn’t do that, I’m not sure he wants to continue.”

Ferrari now has a young driver named Oliver Berman, who races for Haas and is considered one of the main candidates for promotion. According to Fellows, if Hamilton decides to retire early, this could start a chain reaction in the driver market.

Fellows said: “If he decides to leave, he will probably announce it in advance so Ferrari has time to prepare. This could require many changes. Berman is the obvious option, but not the only one.”

British driver Oliver Berman said he regularly discusses his performance in Formula 1 with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasser.

Berman is preparing for his second season in F1 with Haas after a successful first year in 2025. Despite being contracted to Haas, Berman is part of Ferrari’s youth academy and has previously been floated as a potential candidate to join the team should a position become available.

The pilot emphasizes that his discussions with Vasser concern only his current job behind the wheel and not his future place at Ferrari.

“Sometimes we exchange ideas about the challenges I’ve faced this season,” Berman said.

This is an open dialogue. I want them to understand what’s going on from my perspective because on paper you only see the result and that doesn’t always show the whole picture. The future is not discussed in the conversations. “I’m just driving the car and it will be decided whether I show a good level or not.”

Berman already had the opportunity to drive for Ferrari when he replaced the ailing Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Now a full-fledged racing driver, he gets advice from Ferrari on what he should work on in his driving.

“There is no feedback, positive or negative. I just discuss the difficulties I encountered. Future regulations are also important: I have the same engine as Ferrari. Sometimes they point out areas that need improvement. But for me it is a natural process; I get better as I gain experience.”

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has returned to Portugal to test his GT3 car at the start of the 2026 season.

Last year the Dutch driver took to the track several times in his touring cars; in particular, he participated in the Nordschleife competition, which he won together with his teammate Chris Lulem.

Verstappen has long expressed his passion for endurance racing and plans to compete more frequently in the form of motorsport after retiring from Formula 1. He arrived in Portugal last year, just a week after failing to win another world title against Lando Norris.

The 28-year-old driver arrived at the Portuguese Grand Prix circuit Estoril, where he tested the Mercedes AMG GT3 on wet surfaces.

Let’s remember, at the end of 2025, Verstappen’s endurance racing team announced that it had signed a contract with Mercedes to participate in future competitions.

Verstappen in Mercedes’ Portimão. Images are in the foreground. #daznf1 pic.twitter.com/1NFxvED3So

— joao carlos costa (@jcccomentador) January 14, 2026