Oliver Bearman acknowledged that Lewis Hamilton’s comeback at Ferrari has changed the landscape for his plans in Formula 1. A member of the Italian team’s academy since 2021, the Haas driver stated that the seven-time champion’s good form ‘is not ideal’ for his ambition to one day race for Ferrari.
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Hamilton’s rise in 2026 has reduced speculation about a seat at the Italian team. After a difficult debut season in 2025, the Briton began to deliver more consistent results with the new generation of cars and currently holds second place in the championship, with a win in Barcelona and four other podiums.
In an interview with the Beyond the Grid podcast, Bearman said that as a fan of Formula 1 and Hamilton, he was pleased to see the veteran back competing for wins: “As an F1 fan and also of Lewis, it’s really cool to see him competing at the level he is. Seeing him on the top step of the podium in Barcelona was a very special moment for British F1. We had three Brits on the podium, with the best driver we’ve ever seen in first. It was something really special,” he said.
At the same time, the Haas driver acknowledged that this situation does not favor his own plans: “Of course, thinking about my future, this is not ideal. But I’m still young. I’m only 21 and I’m not in a big hurry. For me, staying at Haas in the near future is not a bad thing. There is still a lot to learn in this team and much to achieve,” he said.
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Even while maintaining the goal of racing for Ferrari, Bearman made it clear that he does not intend to wait indefinitely for an opportunity: “My goal remains to be a Ferrari driver one day. But I don’t want to wait three, four, or five years for a seat to open up, because there are no guarantees. You could end up wasting your best years,” he added.
The Briton stated that his priority is to fight for world titles, regardless of the team: “My ultimate goal might be a bit selfish, and that’s okay, because that’s why I’m here. I want to compete for world championships. If I get that opportunity anywhere, I will take it,” he concluded.
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