Steiner: Bearman is the obvious successor to Hamilton at Ferrari
Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has emphatically declared Oliver Bearman as the ideal successor to Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, citing Bearman's exceptional rookie season with Haas. With Hamilton facing challenges in his debut year at Maranello, Steiner believes Bearman's strong performances and clear superiority over teammate Esteban Ocon make him the obvious choice for Ferrari's future, aligning with the team's history of promoting junior talent. The paddock buzz suggests this transition is a matter of 'when,' not 'if'.
Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has boldly stated that British young gun Oliver Bearman, currently shining with Haas, is the clear long-term answer for Ferrari, potentially succeeding Lewis Hamilton. This comes as Hamilton navigates a challenging debut season with the Scuderia, contrasting sharply with Bearman's impressive run of four consecutive points finishes, including a stellar fourth place in Mexico.
Why it matters:
Ferrari's future driver lineup is a constant source of speculation, especially with Lewis Hamilton's current struggles and his contract expiring at the end of 2026. The emergence of a strong junior driver like Bearman, who is already proving his mettle in F1, provides Ferrari with a compelling option to secure a future star. This could dictate the team's trajectory and competitive edge for years to come, potentially leading to a new era of talent development within Maranello.
The Details:
- Steiner's Stance: On The Red Flags podcast, Steiner unequivocally stated that if Hamilton fails to meet expectations again next year, Bearman should replace him, highlighting the young driver's "fantastic job" and what he's "worth."
- Bearman vs. Ocon: Steiner emphasized Bearman's dominance over his more experienced teammate, Esteban Ocon. Bearman currently leads Ocon by 10 points in the Drivers' standings, a significant achievement for a rookie.
- Steiner noted Bearman's early season mistakes have been ironed out, describing his current driving as "clean as they get" and that he "blows away Ocon."
- Urgency for Ferrari: Steiner believes Ferrari must act quickly to secure Bearman. He warned that if Ferrari doesn't offer him a seat for 2027, another top team will, as Bearman "will not be hanging around in the midfield."
- Paddock Consensus: Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz echoes Steiner's sentiments, calling a Bearman-Ferrari pairing "as clear as night follows day." He points to Ferrari's historical practice of developing junior drivers at customer teams like Sauber or Haas before promoting them to the main outfit.
- While Haas claims to have Bearman secured for 2026, many believe Ferrari will wait until Hamilton's contract concludes to make a decisive move.
What's next:
Oliver Bearman continues to impress on track, consistently delivering strong results for Haas. The ongoing discussions about his future underscore the high expectations surrounding him. If Ferrari decides to follow its traditional path and Bearman continues his stellar performance, it's highly probable he will transition to the Scuderia after Hamilton's departure. This move would signify Ferrari's commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and securing its long-term future, potentially ushering in a new era for the iconic Italian team.