Surprise F1 star on Ferrari ‘wish list’ as Lewis Hamilton replacement emerges | F1 | Sport

Gabriel Bortoleto is reportedly on Ferrari’s ‘wish list’ for the 2027 season, should the Italian constructor be forced to replace either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc. The Brazilian starlet is enjoying an exceptional rookie season with Sauber.

Bortoleto arrived on the Formula One grid after securing back-to-back titles in Formula Three and Formula Two – a feat previously achieved by George Russell and Oscar Piastri. He has so far lived up to his potential, scoring four top-10 finishes and dominating experienced team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in the qualifying head-to-head.

According to Swiss news outlet Blick, Bortoleto is now on Ferrari’s ‘wish list’ for the 2027 season. While Leclerc is contracted with the Italian constructor until 2029, Hamilton’s long-term future is unclear, with speculation rife following a challenging maiden campaign with the Prancing Horse.

Bortoleto, meanwhile, faces another year with Team Hinwil as they navigate a long-anticipated rebrand from Sauber to Audi. Should the 20-year-old continue to perform at his current level, interest in his services will accrue.

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has already suggested Bortoleto as an option for Fred Vasseur’s team. “Bortoleto’s good performances in a midfield team like Sauber should really wake Ferrari up now,” he told Blick in August. “The Italians’ next driver question has to be resolved with the Brazilian.”

Bortoleto won’t be the only prospect angling for an opportunity with Ferrari should Hamilton call time on his career or Leclerc up sticks and join an F1 rival. Haas starlet Oliver Bearman has already driven for the Scuderia, replacing Carlos Sainz in Jeddah in 2024, and the Brit still has designs on a full-time seat with the team.

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Bearman enjoyed an excellent start to his first full season in F1, scoring points in three of his first four Grand Prix appearances. He has since added two top-10s to his collection, including a career-best sixth-place finish in Zandvoort.

“Yeah, of course it’s in the back of my mind, and I was very lucky to have a taste of Ferrari for my first ever race,” the Essex-born starlet told Express Sport earlier this year.

“But my future moments with Haas, and I’m really excited to see what we can do together, and the more I can show now, the better my chances are in the future. So it’s very easy to not think about that, focus on the task at hand and try and do as best as I can.”