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Oliver Bearman remains one of the clearest candidates to eventually take a Ferrari seat, but Charles Leclerc’s contract extension and Lewis Hamilton’s improved form have changed the timing of that opportunity.
Bearman, currently racing for Haas, has been linked with Ferrari for some time. The expectation is that he would replace Hamilton at Maranello, yet Hamilton’s contract runs through 2028 and the seven-time champion has reiterated his intention to remain in Formula 1 for some time. That could leave Bearman waiting until 2029 at the earliest.
The dilemma is straightforward: should Bearman remain within Ferrari’s set-up and protect his route to the works team, or should he keep other options open rather than allow his career to become tied to a distant possibility? The wider F1 driver market could become increasingly important to that decision.
Bearman has admitted that Hamilton’s resurgence is “not ideal” for his career. The 41-year-old has turned a corner in 2026 and currently sits second in the championship standings, removing much of the uncertainty surrounding his future.
That presents Bearman with a sporting challenge even if the Ferrari seat eventually becomes available. He would be replacing the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, an imposing benchmark for any successor. Bearman has developed well at Haas and demonstrated during his Ferrari debut in 2024 that he could perform in the car, but the pressure at Maranello would still be immense.
The challenge would not be limited to performance. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Hamilton contributes approximately €90 million to Ferrari’s revenue, equivalent to roughly £77 million. Since his arrival in 2025, Ferrari has signed eight contracts while its revenue has increased dramatically.
Hamilton’s commercial impact reflects his status as the biggest name in Formula 1. Bearman’s talent is not in question, and several more seasons at Haas could make him a stronger driver by the time a Ferrari opportunity emerges. However, his commercial influence is expected to be significantly smaller and may never approach Hamilton’s level.
That leaves both Ferrari and Bearman facing the same question. Ferrari must plan for the financial and sporting consequences of Hamilton’s eventual departure, while Bearman cannot afford to rely on a single opportunity. Red Bull has also held an interest in him, making alternative routes essential if the wait for Ferrari becomes too long.
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.