Oliver Bearman is one of the most exciting young drivers in the paddock right now. He has no contract for 2027, no guaranteed Ferrari seat, and Red Bull are apparently watching his every move. Comfortable situation? Not remotely. Interesting? Absolutely.
The Rumour Mill Starts Turning
It was Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft who lit the fuse, revealing ahead of the Belgian GP that Red Bull are keeping close tabs on Oliver Bearman. Ralf Schumacher went further, naming the 21-year-old as his first choice to replace Max Verstappen should the Dutchman trigger his exit clause and walk. Given that Verstappen’s exit clause has already been activated, that is not an entirely theoretical scenario.
There is also a neat bit of paddock logic here: Red Bull’s team principal is Laurent Mekies, the very man who recruited Bearman into the Ferrari Driver Academy. The connections are there. Whether they amount to anything is another matter entirely.
Bearman’s Response: Flattered, But Focused
Speaking at the Belgian GP media day, Bearman did not exactly slam the door shut.
“It’s quite flattering to hear things like that, with a team like Red Bull who are incredibly successful, and to be connected with them in any way, even if it’s just rumours, is very nice. But, as I said, it’s just rumours, and I’m fully focused on what I’m doing here with Haas at the moment.” – Oliver Bearman
Diplomatic. Carefully worded. A man who knows exactly what he is doing.
The Ferrari Problem
Here is the uncomfortable reality for Bearman. Charles Leclerc has just signed a long-term extension that keeps him at Ferrari well beyond 2030. Lewis Hamilton, far from winding down, is enjoying a genuine resurgence and holds a contract through 2027. There is simply no seat available at Maranello in the near future, regardless of how well Bearman performs.
He says he hopes his future is with Ferrari, and that the Scuderia’s faith in him, dating back to Formula 3 and that remarkable Saudi Arabian debut in 2024, means everything. Fair enough. But hoping and having a contract are very different things.
“At the moment, I don’t have a contract for next year, so just waiting in the dark.” – Oliver Bearman
Not Quite a Free Agent
Before anyone gets carried away, Bearman was quick to clarify he is not a fully free agent. Haas reportedly hold an option on him for 2027, and his Ferrari ties clearly have not been dissolved. He is, in his own words, in the dark, but not entirely without a torch. For the full picture on how Red Bull’s 2026 struggles are reshaping their driver thinking, the context matters.
A Talent Without a Home, For Now
Bearman has 18 points to his team-mate Esteban Ocon’s three in 2026. He has outqualified Ocon five times. The form is there. The talent is obvious. What he lacks is certainty, and in F1, uncertainty has a way of resolving itself in someone else’s favour if you wait too long.
Ferrari built him, Red Bull want to borrow him, and Haas need him. Bearman, for his part, is just getting on with driving quickly. Which, all things considered, is probably the most sensible thing he can do.
