Haas team principal lets slip that Ferrari wants to replace Lewis Hamilton with Ollie Bearman
The possibility of a major driver change at Ferrari is gaining traction after Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu appeared to suggest that the Italian team could already be preparing to bring Oliver Bearman back into its ranks, potentially at the expense of Lewis Hamilton.
According to Komatsu, Ferrari has been closely monitoring the young British driver, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and could be ready to act sooner than expected, with a possible transition as early as the next Formula 1 season.
“How much more can Ollie Bearman improve? I don’t know, I haven’t seen his limit yet,” Komatsu began during an appearance on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “I can’t wait to see him this season. He has already proven himself under the complications of the new regulations. He has huge potential.”
The Essex-born driver has enjoyed a strong start to his Formula 1 campaign, scoring a seventh-place finish in Australia and a fifth place in China before a retirement in Japan. His performances have only strengthened speculation that his future could be closely tied to Ferrari.
When asked whether he was concerned about losing Bearman to Ferrari in the future, Komatsu gave a candid response, suggesting that such a move could happen sooner rather than later.
“There’s no point worrying about it,” Ayao Komatsu replied. “I strongly believe in controlling what you can control. Ferrari has invested in him for many years, while we have had him since last year. We need to focus on what we can control, and if we have done a great job with Ollie and he performs so well that Ferrari wants to sign him the following year, then we should be satisfied that we have done our job properly. You must focus on your own objective.”
It is clear that, in such a scenario, the seat Ollie Bearman would be expected to take would belong to 41-year-old Lewis Hamilton rather than Charles Leclerc, who remains a central figure in Ferrari’s present and future plans.
When asked whether there are deadlines this season by which Ferrari must inform Haas about its intentions regarding Ollie Bearman, Ayao Komatsu confirmed that discussions do exist, but downplayed their importance.
“Yes, but that would only be a discussion between us and Ferrari,” he said. “Honestly, we are all focused on getting the maximum out of the car and out of Ollie. If that means losing him next year, hopefully not, but it is not something we can control.”
The relationship between Haas and Ferrari remains extremely close, with the American team—based in the United Kingdom—operating as a customer outfit using Ferrari engines, transmissions, and multiple technical components. The agreement between the two teams has been extended until 2028.
As for Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari, it runs until the end of the current season. While an option for an additional year remains on the table, it will depend on multiple factors, including the seven-time world champion’s own decision and his performances with the SF26, which have shown promising signs in the opening rounds of the season.
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