Oliver Bearman’s future in Formula 1 could be defined by his relationship with Ferrari. The British driver has a contract with Haas through the end of 2026 and, according to Auto Motor und Sport, his ties to Ferrari’s Academy are expected to last only until the end of 2027. The situation is delicate because, despite his solid performance at Haas, Bearman does not have a guaranteed seat in the Maranello team.
The link with Ferrari was fundamental for Bearman’s arrival in Formula 1. A member of the academy since the junior categories, Bearman debuted for the team in 2024, when he stood in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. At 18, he finished seventh and scored points. Later, he also took Kevin Magnussen’s place at Haas and again showed that he could be a reliable option. The performance paved the way for his promotion to a full-time driver with the team in 2025.
At Haas, Bearman continued to evolve and managed to run consistently ahead of his teammate. In 2026, his results also helped reinforce the team’s interest in his stay. The issue is that Haas and Ferrari maintain a technical partnership, and the Italian outfit tends to use one of the American team’s seats to develop young drivers.
Bearman has long been considered a natural successor to one of Ferrari’s cars, but the current lineup of the team makes a promotion difficult. The driver himself has already stated that racing for Ferrari remains his goal. At the same time, he acknowledged that he cannot spend his prime years waiting indefinitely for an opportunity in Maranello.
With Leclerc and Hamilton occupying the two seats, Bearman may need to remain at Haas for longer. If he does not receive a promotion and his ties with the academy really end in 2027, however, Ferrari’s support for his continued stay with the American team could disappear.
The Haas team is already weighing alternatives and has conducted tests with Brazilian Rafael Câmara, Italian Leonardo Fornaroli, and Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa. Câmara, who also belongs to Ferrari’s Academy, is third in Formula 2 and has previously been a Formula 3 champion, but, according to rumors, the team did not settle on a clear favorite after the recent tests.
