Ollie Bearman is not putting a timeline on his Ferrari dream, but the rising British star believes he is ready should the call come. The 21-year-old has again started the season strongly for the ever-impressive Haas team, racking up 18 points from the first five races, including a fifth-placed finish in China.
It is just his second full season in Formula One, having made his debut as a last-minute replacement for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Bearman put the F1 world on notice that weekend, securing seventh on debut. The youngster from Essex is part of the Ferrari driver academy and remains contracted to the Italian giants.
Speculation linking Bearman with replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at the Scuderia is relentless. Hamilton, 41, vowed to remain in the sport for a long time and told people to “get used to it” in Montreal last weekend, before finishing second to earn his best result for the team.
Bearman is prepared to be patient in pursuit of his ambition. “There’s no dates that I need to be doing X, I don’t really care about that, I want to continue to become the best version of myself, give this team the best chance to fight and continue to enjoy it,” Bearman told the Press Association.
The middle of the season is where the driver market tends to heat up, and it is expected to be a big one, with several drivers out of contract and continued questions over the future of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Asked whether he needs clarity over his Ferrari future, with a host of top seats potentially becoming available, Bearman said: “For me of course I’m contracted to Ferrari, they’ve put trust in me since the very beginning, so it’s natural that my ultimate target is to be with them. At the moment the goal is to continue building with Haas, I’m super happy with the trajectory that we’re on. So no timeline, no problems.”
“I think the end of this year is important because a lot of people are having their contracts ending, so I think everyone wanted to see how the pecking order was in 2026 and that will then determine what 2027 looks like. For me it’s not my job, I drive the car, there’s people taking care of that for me.”
Bearman claimed his best F1 result with a stunning fourth place in Mexico City at the back end of last season and is consistently beating experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon. The British driver is helping Haas punch significantly above their weight. He is also showing a greater level of consistency this season – after a number of flashpoints last campaign which racked up penalty points and left him flirting with a race ban.
He is confident that he is on the up and is ready to make the next step should the opportunity arise. “I feel like I’m ready whenever anything happens, so that’s what matters,” Bearman said. “I would say it’s been a big step from 12 months ago. I feel like I’ve really carried on where I left off at the end of last year. I’m definitely improving in terms of consistency.”
Bearman will certainly be a key name as the F1 ‘silly season’ ramps up over the next few months. His father David has become a prominent figure during F1 broadcasts as he roars his son on from the Haas garage, and Bearman knows his feet will be kept on the ground. “It’s important to have those moments to get away from racing and catch your mind as well, that’s key,” he added. “It’s not going to improve my performance by losing focus on these rumours and things. My main goal is to do the best that I can and that puts me in the best position for the future.”
