According to British driver and commentator Sam Bird, Oliver Bearman has everything it takes to join a top Formula 1 team like Ferrari and fight for victories. Naturally, the most logical destination would seem to be Ferrari, perhaps as Lewis Hamilton’s successor or, according to some recent rumours, even as a replacement for Charles Leclerc.
Bearman has already driven for Ferrari in Formula 1, when at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix he was called up to replace Carlos Sainz, making his debut in the premier class. This year, the British driver is competing in his first full season with Haas and has often shown that he is on the pace, if not even faster, than his teammate Esteban Ocon.
Although he has collected only 18 points so far, placing him 19th in the drivers’ standings, Bird emphasised that Bearman has the right talent to race at the top. “I give him a year, maybe two, and he’ll be in a big seat, fighting for wins and podiums. He’s too good not to be there… in my opinion, he’s often been much faster than Esteban Ocon, especially in qualifying,” Bird explained during the BBC Chequered Flag podcast.
“Ok, there have been a few mistakes at times, but he’s showing he’s good enough to race at the front of the Formula 1 grid. He arrived with sky-high expectations after his sudden debut in Saudi Arabia, when Carlos Sainz couldn’t race because of appendicitis, and I think this year he’s been really, really great to watch.”
“If you look at all the rookies, I think Isack Hadjar has been excellent, Bearman too, and those two have been the best debutants in my opinion. I know Andrea Kimi Antonelli has improved recently, but I wouldn’t say he has stood out. Bearman and Hadjar, and sometimes also Gabriel Bortoleto, are the ones who have impressed the most.”
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