Oliver Bearman has stated that Lewis Hamilton’s strong performance with Ferrari in the current 2026 Formula 1 season presents a challenge to his own aspirations of securing a seat with the Scuderia. Bearman, a 21-year-old British driver and a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, is currently in his second season on loan at Haas.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari for the 2025 season, experienced a difficult debut year. However, he has demonstrated a significant turnaround in 2026 under the new technical regulations.
The seven-time world champion secured his maiden victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on June 14, 2026, ending a 686-day win drought. This marked his 31st race start for the Maranello-based team.
Hamilton currently holds second position in the Drivers’ Championship with 169 points, trailing Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 50 points. He has achieved four additional podium finishes this season and has not finished outside the top six in any race.
Ferrari is actively pursuing the Constructors’ Championship, with Hamilton scheduled to receive an all-new chassis for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix on August 23. His aggressive driving style, particularly his late-braking technique and car rotation, is proving well-suited to the lighter and more agile 2026 machinery.
Bearman made his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in for Carlos Sainz and finishing seventh. He subsequently joined Haas as a full-time driver for the 2025 season alongside Esteban Ocon.
His loan agreement with Haas is expected to extend into the 2027 season, with his contract securing his position at the team until at least the end of that year. Bearman has scored points in three of his first five races this season, though he has since gone six rounds without a top-10 finish.
Bearman acknowledged that while he is pleased to witness Hamilton’s return to form as an F1 fan, it complicates his own career trajectory. He stated that his ultimate ambition is to become a Ferrari driver and compete for world championships.
‘As an F1 fan and a Lewis fan as well, it’s pretty cool to see him performing at the level he is,’ Bearman told F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast. ‘Seeing him on the top step in Barcelona was quite a special moment for British F1 in general. Of course, in terms of my future, that’s not ideal.’
He further indicated a willingness to explore opportunities with other teams if a Ferrari seat remains unavailable for an extended period, emphasizing his desire to avoid wasting his prime years.
Ferrari’s current driver lineup sees Charles Leclerc on a recently extended long-term contract, and Hamilton’s deal is understood to run until at least the end of 2027.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu previously suggested in January 2025 that Ferrari might recall Bearman for 2027 if his performance warranted it. However, the current stability at Ferrari’s main team presents a challenge for immediate progression.
Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle has advised Bearman to consider a ‘Plan B’ given the secure positions of Hamilton and Leclerc at Ferrari. Bearman has been linked with potential moves to Red Bull and Aston Martin, though he maintains his focus on his current role with Haas and his long-term commitment to Ferrari.
The Ferrari Driver Academy also supports other talents, including Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara in Formula 2, and Tuukka Taponen in Formula 3. Alba Larsen joined the F1 Academy for the 2026 season.
