Ollie Bearman’s long-term future has become one of the most intriguing topics in the Formula 1 driver market. While Ferrari originally appeared to have a clear development plan for the young Briton, recent speculation linking him with Red Bull has added a new twist to his career prospects.
Planning for the future
Ferrari’s roadmap for Ollie Bearman once seemed straightforward. The plan was to nurture the talented British driver at Haas, allow him to gain experience in Formula 1, and eventually promote him to the Scuderia when the right opportunity arose—potentially following Lewis Hamilton’s retirement.
However, after a difficult 2025 campaign, Lewis Hamilton has bounced back strongly this season and shows no sign of ending his Formula 1 career anytime soon, despite turning 42 in January. That situation could leave Bearman waiting longer than expected for a Ferrari race seat.
As a result, other opportunities may begin to emerge. Recent paddock rumours have linked the Ferrari Driver Academy graduate with Red Bull, a possibility mentioned by both Sky Sports UK commentator David Croft and former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The speculation is hardly surprising, as Red Bull’s new team principal, Laurent Mekies, was the man who originally brought Bearman into the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Loyalty or temptation?
Despite his strong ties to Ferrari, Ollie Bearman did not dismiss the possibility of joining the Red Bull family when speaking to reporters during Thursday’s media day at Spa-Francorchamps. In fact, he admitted the speculation was encouraging.
“It’s very flattering to hear things like that. A team like Red Bull has enjoyed incredible success, so to be linked with them in any way, even if it’s only through rumours, is really nice. But, as I said, they’re only rumours, and right now I’m completely focused on what I’m doing here with Haas,” Oliver Bearman said.
“A future with Ferrari? I certainly hope so,” the British driver added. “I don’t have full control over that decision, but Ferrari has believed in me ever since Formula 3, and they put me in one of their Formula 1 cars back in 2024 to replace Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia. That’s ultimately the reason I’m here today. Right now I’m really enjoying my time with Haas, and the faster I can go today, the easier my future will be.”
Oliver Bearman concluded with a reminder that nothing has been decided yet: “At the moment I don’t have a contract for next year. I’m waiting, completely in the dark.” Any interested teams now know the door is not entirely closed.
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