The young Ferrari Driver Academy talent is not rushing to replace Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton remains at Ferrari, but what about Ollie Bearman?
Lewis Hamilton left no room for doubt during the Canadian Grand Prix media day in Montreal when he was once again asked about his future in Formula 1. The seven-time world champion made it clear that he has no intention of stepping away anytime soon.
“You’d better get used to it, because I plan to stay here for a long time,” Lewis Hamilton declared.
The strong statement from the Ferrari driver, far from unusual since his arrival in Maranello, was backed up by encouraging performances on track throughout the weekend. Naturally, many began wondering what Ollie Bearman — widely regarded as a future Ferrari candidate — might have thought while hearing his fellow Brit openly speak about a possible five-year plan in Formula 1.
Officially, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, although the Scuderia reportedly holds an automatic renewal option for 2027.
Ollie Bearman is not feeling any pressure
In reality, Ollie Bearman appears completely unfazed by the speculation surrounding Ferrari’s future driver line-up. Speaking in Montreal to the Press Association, the young British driver explained that he is not placing any pressure on himself regarding a potential move to Ferrari, even if Lewis Hamilton’s long-term plans could delay such an opportunity.
“There are no specific deadlines forcing me to achieve things within a certain timeframe,” Ollie Bearman said. “Honestly, I’m not too concerned about it. I just want to keep becoming the best version of myself, give this team the best possible chance to fight competitively, and continue enjoying what I’m doing.”
The Haas driver, who remains formally tied to Ferrari through the Ferrari Driver Academy, also admitted that his long-term dream naturally remains a seat with the Scuderia.
“Ferrari? Well, obviously I have a contract with them. They believed in me from the very beginning, and naturally my ultimate goal is to race for them one day,” he added.
Focus remains on Haas development
For now, however, Ollie Bearman insists his full attention is on continuing his development with Haas, where he feels he is making strong progress as a Formula 1 driver.
“At the moment, the goal is to keep growing with Haas,” he explained. “I’m extremely happy with the direction we are heading in. So there are no deadlines and no problems from my side.”
The British youngster also acknowledged that the major regulation changes coming in 2026 are creating uncertainty across the Formula 1 paddock, with many drivers waiting to understand the competitive hierarchy before making long-term career decisions: “A lot of contracts are expiring soon, and I think everybody wants to see what the pecking order will look like in 2026 because that will influence what happens in 2027,” Ollie Bearman said. “But that’s not really my business. I drive the car. There are people who handle those things for me.”
Ollie Bearman believes his biggest improvement over the last 12 months has been consistency, something he sees as crucial for securing a strong future in Formula 1.
“I’m improving in terms of consistency, and that’s been a big step compared to where I was 12 months ago,” he concluded. “Losing focus because of rumours or outside noise won’t help my performances. My main objective is simply to do the best possible job, because that puts me in the strongest position for the future. I feel ready for whatever comes next, and that’s what matters most.”
For now, at least, Ollie Bearman is showing no signs of rushing his long-awaited Ferrari opportunity.
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