Jonas LeoFormer Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has identified British driver Ollie Bearman as the "obvious candidate" for a potential Ferrari seat in 2027, following what Steiner described as a transformative rookie season for the young driver. Bearman, who competed with Haas, Steiner’s former outfit, in the 2025 Formula 1 season, notably secured 13th place in the drivers’ standings with 41 points, outperforming his more experienced teammate, Esteban Ocon, who finished 15th with 38 points.
Steiner, a widely respected figure in the paddock known for his candid assessments, offered his insights on Bearman’s development during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast. He lauded Bearman’s remarkable turnaround from a challenging start to his debut season. "I mean this year starting off being fast but making mistakes, but second half of the season he got rid of them, and it’s just like a switch," Steiner remarked, highlighting a pivotal shift in the 20-year-old’s approach and performance.
Bearman’s rookie campaign was characterized by initial flashes of speed often accompanied by errors. Steiner elaborated on this period, stating, "In the first half of the season, I thought he’s taking too much risk with the car he had, and therefore he had a few offs, and it wasn’t good, got a lot of penalty points." This assessment points to a common challenge for many rookies: finding the delicate balance between pushing the limits and maintaining consistent control. However, the latter half of the season saw a significant maturation. "He still kept on collecting them in the second half of the season but he didn’t make mistakes anymore, even in the race, fighting hard," Steiner added, indicating a critical phase of learning and adaptation where Bearman harnessed his aggression more effectively.
A significant highlight of Bearman’s inaugural season was his impressive fourth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix. This result was not only a career-best for the young driver but also a crucial points haul for Haas, a team that often battles in the midfield or lower-midfield positions. Achieving such a strong finish against established competitors in a car not typically contending for podiums underscored Bearman’s raw talent and ability to capitalize on opportunities. This performance resonated across the paddock, signaling his potential to deliver under pressure and extract maximum performance from his machinery.
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The discussion around Bearman’s future has frequently linked him to a potential contract with Ferrari, particularly for the 2027 season. This speculation has gained considerable traction, with Steiner’s endorsement adding significant weight. Other prominent figures, including former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle, have also publicly supported Bearman’s suitability for a top-tier team like Ferrari. Bearman’s affiliation with the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) provides a clear pathway to the Scuderia, a common progression for many of its most promising young talents, such as Charles Leclerc. The FDA’s mission is to nurture future Ferrari stars, and Bearman’s strong rookie showing positions him perfectly within this framework.
Steiner’s rationale for Bearman’s Ferrari readiness is rooted in the broader dynamics of the driver market, particularly concerning Lewis Hamilton’s tenure with the Italian team. Hamilton is set to join Ferrari in 2025, a high-profile move that has generated immense anticipation. Steiner posited a scenario where, "if Lewis hasn’t got the success he needs to have, I don’t think that he continues and then there is the obvious candidate there for Ferrari." This perspective suggests that if Hamilton’s ambitious move to Ferrari does not yield the desired championship success, a seat could open up, and Bearman, as a proven talent within the Ferrari ecosystem, would be the natural successor. This aligns with Ferrari’s long-term strategy of developing its own talent for future leadership roles within the team.
Bearman’s 2025 rookie class was a competitive one, featuring several highly-rated young drivers. While he stood out for his performance at Haas, the drivers’ standings showed varied results among his peers. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a Mercedes junior driver, topped the rookie standings with an impressive 150 points, demonstrating his own formidable talent. Isack Hadjar finished 12th, just ahead of Bearman. Liam Lawson, who had prior F1 experience, placed 14th, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto rounded out the rookie cohort in 19th and 20th, respectively. Despite Antonelli’s higher points tally, Bearman’s performance in a Haas car, which typically offers fewer opportunities for high points finishes compared to a Mercedes, underscored his individual prowess and adaptability. His ability to consistently outperform his seasoned teammate and secure a strong points finish like the one in Mexico speaks volumes about his race craft and potential.
The 2025 season represented a critical proving ground for Bearman, and his performance has undoubtedly elevated his stock in the Formula 1 landscape. His journey from a promising junior driver within the Ferrari Driver Academy to a points-scoring rookie in Formula 1 has been meticulously observed. The backing from figures like Guenther Steiner and Martin Brundle, combined with his tangible results, reinforces the narrative of a driver rapidly maturing into a top-tier talent. As the sport looks towards the regulatory changes of 2026 and the subsequent seasons, the question of who will occupy the most coveted seats becomes increasingly pertinent. For Ollie Bearman, the trajectory appears clear, with a potential future at the sport’s most iconic team now firmly within his sights, contingent on continued development and the unfolding dynamics of the driver market. His ability to overcome initial hurdles and demonstrate consistent, high-level performance suggests that he is indeed shaping up to be a significant force in Formula 1 for years to come.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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