Oliver Bearman's F1 Future: Why Red Bull Is His Best Bet as Ferrari Door Closes

Oliver Bearman's Formula 1 career sits at a pivotal crossroads. The 21-year-old Haas driver has been a Ferrari Academy prospect since childhood, but a perfect storm of circumstances — Lewis Hamilton's resurgence at Ferrari, Haas's financial struggles, and Red Bull's active monitoring — is reshaping his future. Here is the full picture.

The Ferrari Door Has Closed for Now

Bearman is a Ferrari Academy product and has always dreamed of racing in red. But that path is effectively blocked for the foreseeable future. Lewis Hamilton is contracted through 2028 and has found strong form under the 2026 regulations, while Charles Leclerc is locked in long-term .

Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle says Bearman's route to a Maranello seat has been "cut off" for the foreseeable future . Bearman himself has admitted Hamilton's resurgence is "thrilling" but "not ideal" for his Ferrari hopes. In an interview with ESPN, he called it "not ideal" and acknowledged the reality of the situation . He has also warned that he "cannot waste his best years waiting" for a seat at Ferrari .

Haas Is Struggling — Financially and on Track

Bearman's current team, Haas, is experiencing difficulties on multiple fronts. Sky Sports F1's David Croft has warned that financial issues could drive Bearman to leave. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Croft said: "Ollie Bearman I think is on the market because he can't stay at Haas if Haas don't get the funding they need to give him and Esteban Ocon a competitive car" . Ralf Schumacher has similarly described a scenario in which Haas could lose both its drivers .

On the track, Bearman currently sits 12th in the drivers' standings with 18 points after 9 races, scoring just one point in the last six rounds . He has publicly warned that Haas risks being "outdeveloped" by midfield rivals like Racing Bulls and Alpine . After finishing 14th in Austria, he told Motorsport.com that the team has lost its competitive edge .

Red Bull Interest Is Real — and Active

The most intriguing development is Red Bull's reported interest. During the British Grand Prix broadcast, Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft revealed: "Over your shoulder is the Red Bull hospitality unit. Laurent Mekies, the team principal, was the man that signed Ollie Bearman to the Ferrari Academy. I know Red Bull are keeping very close tabs on Ollie Bearman" .

The personal link is significant: Laurent Mekies, now Red Bull team principal, is the man who originally signed Bearman to the Ferrari Academy during his tenure at Maranello . Croft added that if Bearman "hasn't got a way into the Scuderia, that might be a very good option for Red Bull and for Ollie" .

Ralf Schumacher, speaking to Sky Deutschland, went further, saying: "If it were possible to get him, my first choice would be Oliver Bearman" as a Verstappen replacement .

Bearman himself has called the speculation "quite flattering" but insisted the "most logical path" remains with Ferrari for now .

How the 2027 Driver Market Could Shake Out

The timing aligns for a 2027 move. Bearman's contract with Haas runs through the end of the 2026 season . Max Verstappen has yet to commit to Red Bull for 2027, and the reigning world champion has an exit clause in his contract . If Verstappen leaves — potentially for McLaren or Mercedes — Red Bull would need a top-tier replacement.

Multiple reports suggest Red Bull's pitch would be straightforward: offer Bearman an immediate seat at Racing Bulls (its junior team) or directly into the senior Red Bull team .

The Bottom Line

Bearman still hopes to race for Ferrari one day, but the combination of a locked-in Ferrari lineup and Haas's declining competitiveness makes a Red Bull move — likely for 2027 if Verstappen exits — his most credible near-term alternative . For now, the 21-year-old remains publicly committed to Ferrari, but the clock is ticking, and options are narrowing.

As Bearman told AFP: "I don't have a contract for next year. It's tough on one hand because it's not nice not knowing what you're doing next year, but on the other hand it's an opportunity" .