Ferrari warned it could lose Oliver Bearman as Lewis Hamilton’s future remains uncertain

Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman is ready for a top team seat, but his path depends on Lewis Hamilton's retirement timeline. Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner cautions that if Ferrari doesn't move quickly, Bearman could be poached by a rival outfit.

Why it matters:

Bearman, 21, has impressed in his first full F1 season with Haas, outperforming teammate Esteban Ocon and scoring points in multiple races. With Hamilton entering his second year at Ferrari and holding a 2027 option, the Scuderia faces a delicate balancing act between honoring its seven-time champion and grooming its next star.

The details:

• Bearman's trajectory: His best 2025 result was P4 in Mexico, and he scored points in the first two rounds of 2026 (including P5 in China). He crashed in Japan while fighting for points but remains ahead of Ocon in the standings.
• Steiner's assessment: "Oliver is now ready to go to a team where he can win races or at least go to the podium." He notes Bearman likely has contract clauses allowing a move to a leading team if an offer comes.
• Hamilton's status: Steiner says the seven-time champion started 2026 better than 2025, but his decision to stay depends on whether he believes he can win an eighth title. "When he realizes he cannot win in a Ferrari, that's when he'll stop," Steiner predicts.
• Contract situation: Bearman's Haas deal ends this year. Hamilton's Ferrari contract includes a 2027 option that only he can exercise.

Between the lines:

Ferrari has invested heavily in Bearman through its academy, giving him FP1 sessions with Haas (as they did with Charles Leclerc). Losing him would be a blow to their long-term driver pipeline. The team must decide whether to promote Bearman alongside Leclerc or risk seeing him join a rival like Mercedes or Red Bull.

What's next:

The 2027 driver market will be shaped by Hamilton's call. If he extends, Bearman may need to wait or seek an exit clause. If Hamilton retires, Bearman is the natural successor. For now, patience is required — but as Steiner warns, patience has limits.