Ollie Bearman admits Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari success could delay his Scuderia chance

Bearman accepts Ferrari wait may be longer

Ollie Bearman has conceded that Lewis Hamilton’s strong form at Ferrari could delay his long-term hopes of becoming a Scuderia Formula 1 driver, although the 21-year-old insists he is not in a hurry to leave Haas.

However, Ferrari’s current line-up of Charles Leclerc and a resurgent Hamilton leaves Bearman facing a longer wait than he may have expected. Hamilton’s recent success has made that reality more difficult from a personal perspective, but Bearman also recognises the significance of seeing the seven-time world champion perform at the Italian team.

He added that Hamilton’s performance was “not ideal” for his own future prospects, but stressed: “I’m only 21. I’m not in a huge rush.”

Haas remains an important part of Bearman’s development

Since making his full-time debut last season, Bearman has continued to develop at Haas, ending his rookie campaign with a career-best fourth place in Mexico City. He began 2026 positively, scoring in the opening two rounds, including a Sprint point and a superb fifth-place finish in China after reaching Q3.

Results have since become harder to secure, apart from another points finish in Canada, and both Haas drivers have slipped down the order. Bearman nevertheless remains ahead of team-mate Esteban Ocon in the Drivers’ Championship.

The Briton believes Haas still offers valuable room for progress. “There’s a lot to learn at this team. There’s a lot to still achieve,” he said, while admitting that the current period is challenging and character-building.

Bearman does not want his Haas story to be defined by a strong first season followed by a prolonged struggle. His immediate objective is clear: recover performance and return to scoring points. That measured approach echoes the wider pressure around Ferrari’s current competitive expectations, recently examined in Lewis Hamilton’s stronger second-half outlook with Ferrari.

Ferrari remains the dream

Bearman says Ferrari is still his ultimate target, describing it as “the dream team” and the world’s most iconic brand. Yet he is also unwilling to wait indefinitely for an opening.

“I don’t want to be sitting around for three, four, five years waiting for a seat to become available,” he said. His ambition is to fight for wins and world championships, wherever that opportunity emerges—even if it ultimately means taking a path away from Ferrari.