– Oliver Bearman admits that Lewis Hamilton’s rise at Ferrari initially diminishes his chances of a future cockpit at the Scuderia. At the same time, however, the Haas driver emphasizes that he sees no reason to rush and remains true to his long-term goal.
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Bearman made a lasting impression with his convincing debut for Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he replaced the ill Carlos Sainz. Subsequently, the Brit received a full-time seat at Haas for 2025 and drew attention with a strong rookie season. This included, among other things, a fourth place at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Because Hamilton initially struggled at Ferrari, Bearman was early on considered a possible candidate for a future cockpit in Maranello. But the situation has since changed. Hamilton celebrated his first Grand Prix win for Ferrari in Barcelona in 2026 and is currently second in the drivers’ standings.
Bearman is happy about Hamilton’s success
In the podcast “F1 Beyond The Grid,” Bearman explains that he views Hamilton’s success positively despite its impact on his own prospects.
“As a Formula 1 fan and also as a Lewis fan, it’s pretty cool to see him perform at this level,” says Bearman. “Seeing him at the top of the podium in Barcelona was a very special moment for British motorsport. There were three Brits on the podium, with the best driver we’ve ever seen in first place. That’s something very special.”
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At the same time, the 21-year-old does not hide that Hamilton’s rise in form makes his own Ferrari prospects more difficult. “Of course, that’s not ideal with regard to my future,” Bearman admits. “But I’m still young. I’m only 21 years old. I’m not in a hurry, and for me, it’s not a bad thing to stay at Haas for the foreseeable future. I feel there is still a lot to learn in this team. There is still much to achieve.”
Ferrari remains the big career goal
Bearman has so far presented himself consistently strong at Haas and was able to regularly outperform his experienced teammate Esteban Ocon both in the 2025 season and in the first half of 2026.
Nevertheless, the Brit makes it clear that his long-term goal remains unchanged: “My goal is still to be a Ferrari driver one day,” Bearman explains. “Of course, I don’t want to wait three, four, or five years until maybe a spot opens up, because there are no guarantees for that. You can waste your best years.”
At the same time, he emphasizes that ultimately what counts for him is the chance to fight for titles, regardless of which team offers that opportunity. With this, Bearman makes it clear that while Ferrari remains his dream destination, he does not want to base his career planning solely on a possible cockpit in Maranello.
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