Lewis Hamilton is enduring a challenging and frustrating first season at Ferrari, often described as a “nightmare” by insiders, while young British talent Oliver Bearman is making waves at Haas and proving why he is considered a natural successor to the seven-time world champion.
Ferrari welcomed Lewis Hamilton to Maranello for the 2025 Formula 1 season, replacing Carlos Sainz on an initial two-year contract. At the same time, the Scuderia focused on its long-term plans by loaning academy graduate Oliver Bearman to Haas for his rookie season in 2025. This strategy allows Ferrari to nurture future talent while giving Hamilton their immediate focus.
Haas, a Ferrari engine customer, maintains close technical and operational links with the Scuderia, including offices within Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva facility. This partnership facilitated Bearman’s progression, as he had already served as a reserve driver for both Haas and Ferrari in 2024 before earning a full-time race seat.
The Ferrari Driver Academy member has impressed in his debut full-time season, accumulating 40 points from 21 race appearances for Haas, alongside previous cameo drives for both Haas and Ferrari. Notably, he has scored points in the past four Grands Prix consecutively, including a career-best P4 in Mexico City, which briefly put him in contention for his first podium.
Ferrari closely monitored Bearman’s consistency and racecraft
Ferrari were always confident in Oliver Bearman’s raw pace, based on his performances in the junior categories and as an F1 reserve driver. However, The Athletic reports that the team was particularly keen to see whether the Ferrari junior could combine speed with consistent point-scoring finishes – a trait essential for a future Ferrari driver.
In the opening races of 2025, Ollie Bearman showed promising results, scoring points in three of the first four Grands Prix, including China (P8), Japan, and Bahrain (P10). Despite a subsequent points drought in the next 13 Grands Prix, his performances remained solid, highlighted by four consecutive P11 finishes in Canada, Austria, Great Britain, and Belgium. Even after a 10-place grid penalty at Silverstone due to a red flag incident, Ollie Bearman climbed from P18 to P11, demonstrating resilience and racecraft under pressure.
Bearman positioned as Ferrari’s natural replacement for Hamilton
Ollie Bearman’s consistent progress has coincided with Lewis Hamilton’s difficult adjustment to Ferrari. The seven-time world champion has yet to reach the podium in the first 21 of 24 races in 2025, leading to speculation about his long-term future at the Scuderia. Reports suggest Lewis Hamilton could consider leaving Ferrari at the end of his contract in 2026, making Ollie Bearman the likely successor.
Ferrari are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, aware that rival F1 teams may attempt to lure Ollie Bearman away before he transitions to Maranello. By securing the young Briton as Hamilton’s replacement, potentially in 2027, Ferrari would ensure continuity and a smooth integration of one of their most promising academy talents.
Overall, Oliver Bearman’s performance at Haas not only underscores his potential but also aligns with Ferrari’s long-term vision of grooming a young British driver capable of carrying the Scuderia forward after Lewis Hamilton’s eventual departure.
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