Oliver Bearman is increasingly establishing himself as one of F1’s most prominent young talents, to the point of reigniting speculation about a return to Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton’s successor.
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Currently driving for Haas F1 Team, where he is on loan from the Scuderia, the 20-year-old Briton confirmed his potential after a promising 2025 season, notably marked by a 4th place in Mexico and an overall performance superior to that of Esteban Ocon.
In 2026, he continued his momentum with regular points finishes in Australia and China, further boosting his reputation in the paddock.
Haas clear-eyed in the face of the Ferrari threat
Even his violent accident at Suzuka, linked to a significant speed differential with Franco Colapinto, has not dampened the very positive perception surrounding him.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu is realistic about a situation he does not fully control. The close relationship between Haas and Ferrari implies a structural dependency: Bearman remains first and foremost a driver trained and supported by Ferrari.
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“There’s no point in worrying. I believe we need to focus on what we can control. Ferrari has been investing in him for years,” he explained.
The paradox of success
The more Bearman performs, the more likely his return to Maranello becomes. A paradox accepted by Komatsu, who sees a potential departure as a form of validation for his team’s work: “If we do a good job with Ollie and he performs to the point that Ferrari takes him back, then we should be satisfied that we have done our job well.”
In the short term, Haas is focusing on immediate performance. But behind the scenes, Bearman’s future will depend primarily on discussions with Ferrari: “It will be a discussion between us and Ferrari, but it doesn’t depend on us, concludes Komatsu. We are simply focusing on getting the most out of the car and Ollie.”
In summary, the dynamic is clear: if Oliver Bearman continues on this trajectory, his return to Ferrari will likely no longer be a question of “if”… but “when”.
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