Guenther Steiner tells Ferrari that Oliver Bearman is ready for a top-team seat, positioning the 21-year-old as a leading candidate to succeed Lewis Hamilton when the vacancy arises.

The former Haas team principal, who worked closely with Bearman, argues the Briton now combines speed with racecraft. He believes Bearman can contend for podiums, and potentially wins, in the right machinery.

Bearman’s 2026 form underpins that view. After four races he sits eighth in the standings with 17 points, highlighted by seventh in Melbourne and fifth in Shanghai.

That progress follows a standout fourth place in Mexico City in 2025. More recently, he races cleanly against frontrunners, suggesting composure and tyre management have matched his raw pace.

Contractually, Bearman remains tied to Haas and Ferrari. Steiner suggests provisions likely exist to release him to a front-running seat if a Ferrari place is not immediately available.

The timing hinges on Hamilton’s plans. The seven-time champion has a multi-year Ferrari deal, reportedly through at least 2027, and has stepped forward in 2026 with third place in China.

Ferrari’s strategy will balance continuity with pipeline development. If Hamilton remains, parking Bearman at a competitive team would mirror Charles Leclerc’s swift progression into a Ferrari lead role.

The risk for Ferrari is stagnation if Bearman waits too long for a vacancy. The counterpoint is maximising mileage in stronger machinery to accelerate his learning curve.

With veterans weighing retirement and midfield teams reshuffling, market timing will be crucial. On current evidence, Bearman looks equipped to step up as soon as an opening emerges.

For Ferrari, that makes him the clearest homegrown successor to Hamilton, even if the exact handover date remains dependent on the champion’s long-term intentions.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.