Oliver Bearman’s future in Formula 1 may be defined by the young driver’s relationship with Ferrari. The Briton has a contract with Haas until the end of 2026 and, according to Auto Motor und Sport, his link with the Ferrari Academy is expected to last only until the end of 2027. The situation is delicate because, despite good performance at Haas, Bearman does not have a guaranteed spot on the Maranello team.
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The connection with Ferrari was fundamental for the Briton’s arrival in Formula 1. A member of the academy since the junior categories, Bearman debuted for the team in 2024, when he replaced Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP. At 18 years old, 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 signing as a full-time driver for the team in 2025.
At Haas, Bearman continued to evolve and managed to consistently outperform his teammate. In 2026, his results also helped reinforce the team’s interest in keeping him. The problem is that Haas and Ferrari maintain a technical partnership, and the Italian team usually uses one of the American team’s seats to develop young drivers.
Bearman has long been considered a natural successor for one of Ferrari’s cars, but the current team composition 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 best years waiting indefinitely for an opportunity in Maranello.
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With Leclerc and Hamilton occupying the two seats, Bearman may need to stay at Haas longer. However, if he does not receive a promotion and his link with the academy really ends in 2027, Ferrari’s support for his stay at the American team could disappear.
Haas is already evaluating alternatives and has conducted tests with Brazilian Rafael Câmara, Italian Leonardo Fornaroli, and Japanese Ryo Hirakawa. Câmara, who is also part of the Ferrari Academy, is third in Formula 2 and has already been a Formula 3 champion, but according to rumors, the team has not chosen a favorite after recent tests.
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