Haas’ Ollie Bearman has admitted Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 rejuvenation at Ferrari is “not perfect” for his personal ambitions of someday racing for the Scuderia. 21-year-old Bearman has been a Ferrari junior since 2021, having been loaned out to Haas at first of the 2025 season.
It was really a mightily spectacular P7 end for Ferrari on the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP that’s largely credited for securing the Haas seat for Bearman – slotting in for Carlos Sainz that weekend after the Spaniard was recognized with appendicitis.
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A promising rookie marketing campaign in 2025, with a P4 end in Mexico the apparent spotlight, noticed the Briton linked with a transfer to Ferrari, particularly given Hamilton’s debut season struggles – ending in P6, with out a podium, and 96 factors behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Nevertheless, the seven-time world champion’s kind has rotated in dramatic style. Hamilton, happier within the 2026 era of F1 vehicles, and with extra enter into the event of the SF-26 has secured his maiden win in purple in Barcelona, together with 4 different podium finishes. The 41-year-old sits in P2 within the standings on the midway stage of the season, 50 factors behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
Hamilton’s Ferrari ‘not perfect,’ says Bearman
Photograph: Race Footage
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Talking on F1’s Past the Grid podcast, Bearman admitted that whereas it’s “fairly cool” to see Hamilton again in kind, and amongst fellow Britons Lando Norris and George Russell on the highest step in Barcelona, it’s “not perfect” in the case of his Ferrari future. The Haas driver does know he has time on his aspect, nonetheless.
Bearman stated: “As an F1 fan and a Lewis fan as effectively, it is fairly cool to see him performing on the stage he’s. Seeing him on the highest step in Barcelona was fairly a particular second for British F1 usually. It was three Brits on the rostrum, with the perfect driver we have ever seen in P1. That is one thing fairly particular.
“After all, by way of my future, that is not perfect. However I am nonetheless younger. I am solely 21. I am not in an enormous rush, and for me, staying at Haas for the foreseeable shouldn’t be a foul factor. I really feel like there’s lots to study at this staff. There’s lots to nonetheless obtain.”
Bearman: I will not sit round for years ready for Ferrari seat
Photograph: Race Footage
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With Haas struggling to make a lot of an impression within the midfield battle, having failed to attain a degree within the 5 races previous to F1’s summer season break, Bearman has not fairly reached the identical heights as he did in 2025, however continues to outperform veteran teammate Esteban Ocon. The Briton sits on 18 factors to Ocon’s three on the season’s midway level.
He could also be dedicated to Haas for now, however Bearman insists he will not “sit round” ready for the Ferrari seat, or extra importantly, the chance to combat for world titles. He stated: “My purpose stays to be a Ferrari driver someday.
“After all, I do not need to be sitting round for 3, 4, 5 years ready for a seat to turn out to be out there as a result of there aren’t any ensures. You may be losing your greatest years.
“My final purpose is possibly a bit egocentric, and that is OK, as a result of that is the rationale I am right here: I need to be combating for world championships. So, if I can have that chance wherever, I’ll take it.”
