Oliver Bearman’s rookie season has put him firmly in contention for a future Ferrari seat, with the young British driver emerging as a new Formula 1 “chosen one.”
A podium narrowly missed and a star-like end to the season: Oliver Bearman is the next “chosen one” of Formula 1, and Ferrari cannot afford to let him slip away. The British driver has already shown talent that is both raw and brilliant, and he looks ready for a leading role. In 2026 he will still be racing with Haas, alongside an Esteban Ocon eager for redemption, but the future appears to point toward Maranello. Will he be the chosen driver when Lewis Hamilton eventually leaves Ferrari?
The year of the rookies delivered no shortage of surprises. From the first podiums of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar to the impressive performances of Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto. If the two very young drivers from Haas and Sauber have not yet tasted champagne, chances are they will not have to wait much longer. Their talent is unquestionable, and the coming seasons, split between the Haas–Ferrari partnership and Audi’s project, should do them full justice.
The 20-year-old from Chelmsford effectively beat a driver often regarded as one of the paddock’s most “underrated” talents during the 2025 season. His head-to-head victory over Esteban Ocon, also in his first year at Haas, adds further shine to a career that already looks like that of a potential top-tier driver. The first real opportunity could come as early as 2027, when one of the two Ferrari seats at Maranello could become available.
The highlights of Oliver Bearman’s season
Oliver Bearman’s season began with three excellent points finishes in China, Japan and Bahrain. From Saudi Arabia through to the start of the summer break, however, the Englishman struggled to secure notable results. Even so, the four eleventh-place finishes in Canada, Austria, Great Britain and Belgium were a clear preview of what was to come in the second half of the championship.
At Monza and in Baku he finished twelfth, but it was in Singapore that the Ferrari-linked youngster truly lit up: ninth place in the race, a result he repeated in Austin. The masterpiece came in Mexico, where, after a race driven with heart and impressive maturity, Bearman secured fourth place, just shy of the podium. Sixth in Brazil and tenth in Las Vegas allowed him to beat his teammate in the final drivers’ standings.
The strengths and weaknesses of Ferrari’s “chosen one”
As already mentioned, Oliver Bearman is a major talent, albeit still a raw one. He is extremely fast on Saturdays and does not shy away from physical battles during Grands Prix. It is probably this very trait that still needs refinement: at times, the British driver tends to take excessive risks, putting his race results in jeopardy.
The young driver from Chelmsford has also been involved in a few naïve infringements. In Monaco he overtook Carlos Sainz under red flag conditions; in Spain he had to serve a ten-second penalty after a duel with Liam Lawson; and in Great Britain another red flag infringement earned him a grid penalty.
The penalties did not end there. In Italy he received ten seconds for contact with Carlos Sainz, as he did again in Austin during a battle with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Another duel with Liam Lawson in the Brazilian Sprint Race resulted in a five-second penalty, as did his defensive move on Lance Stroll at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With ten penalty points on his super licence, Bearman risks a suspension in the opening races of the 2026 season.
Final standings and comparison with Esteban Ocon
Oliver Bearman’s first full season as a race driver ended in thirteenth place overall with 41 points, behind Isack Hadjar on 51 points and ahead of both Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon, who finished on 38 points. Among the rookies, he placed third in the special classification dominated by Andrea Kimi Antonelli with 150 points, beating both Gabriel Bortoleto on 19 points and Franco Colapinto, who scored none.
The Englishman also emerged on top in the direct comparison with Esteban Ocon. In races the final tally ended in a 12–12 draw, while in Sprint Races it was Bearman who prevailed 4–2. On Saturdays, the 20-year-old beat his more experienced teammate both in qualifying, by 14–10, and in Sprint Shootouts, again by 4–2.
Oliver Bearman’s expectations for 2026 and beyond
The foundations laid during the recently concluded season represent an extremely solid base for a career at the front of the grid. The goal for 2026 must be to confirm his progress, find greater consistency and avoid dangerous penalties. Should he beat Esteban Ocon once again and deliver some eye-catching Sunday results, the eyes of the paddock would inevitably turn toward him.
Ferrari is watching closely. Maranello is well aware of Oliver Bearman’s talent, and he remains the leading candidate should either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton leave the Prancing Horse. The first opportunity could come in 2027, but time moves quickly, and if his performances continue to improve, the English driver could be offered a prestigious seat by 2028.
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