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The 2025 Formula 1 season has concluded with a narrative shift that few predicted at the start of the year. While the headlines were meant to be dominated by Lewis Hamilton’s historic move to Maranello, the spotlight has instead shifted toward a young Briton currently wearing Haas colors. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has officially named Oliver Bearman his "Rookie of the Year," going a step further by labeling him the "obvious candidate" to take over a Ferrari seat in 2027.
Despite a competitive rookie field featuring the likes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Liam Lawson, and Gabriel Bortoleto, Steiner’s praise for Bearman is rooted in a remarkable trajectory of maturity. Bearman finished his debut campaign in 13th place with 41 points, crucially outscoring his veteran teammate Esteban Ocon, who managed 38 points for 15th place.
Steiner noted a distinct "switch" in Bearman’s performance during the second half of the season. While the early races were marked by raw speed tempered by rookie errors and penalty points, the latter half saw a refined, tactical driver emerge. "He got rid of [the mistakes], and it's just like a switch," Steiner remarked on the Red Flags Podcast. This evolution was best demonstrated at the Mexican Grand Prix, where Bearman secured a career-best fourth-place finish, proving he could fight at the sharp end of the grid without faltering.
The urgency behind Steiner’s comments stems from the stark contrast in the Ferrari garage. Lewis Hamilton’s first season with the Scuderia was statistically his worst in the sport. Finishing 6th in the championship with zero podiums, Hamilton struggled to adapt to the SF25, culminating in a disastrous streak of three consecutive Q1 exits to end the year.
While Hamilton holds a "3+1" year contract that theoretically keeps him in red through 2027, Steiner suggests that if the seven-time champion’s lack of success continues, the partnership may not reach its full term. "For [Bearman] the door should be open to Ferrari for '27," Steiner argued. "If Lewis hasn't got the success he needs to have, I don't think that he continues."
The case for Bearman is bolstered by his deep ties to the Ferrari Driver Academy and his proven ability to handle the pressure of the Maranello spotlight—a feat he first achieved during his 2024 substitute appearance in Jeddah.
Steiner’s assessment is that Bearman is now "well prepared in Formula 1," possessing both the racecraft and the mental fortitude to handle the "rest of it around him"—the intense media and political pressure that comes with being a Ferrari driver. With Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle also backing the youngster, the consensus in the paddock is growing: Bearman isn't just a future star; he is the insurance policy Ferrari needs if the Hamilton era fails to deliver.
As we look toward 2026, Bearman’s role at Haas will be under intense scrutiny. If he continues to outperform experienced teammates and maintain his upward curve, the "obvious candidate" may find himself in red sooner than anyone expected.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.