Ex‑Ferrari engineer doubts Oliver Bearman's top‑tier potential

Oliver Bearman has collected 17 points and sits seventh after three races, but former Ferrari chief track engineer Luca Baldisserri says the 19‑year‑old lacks the calibre of F1’s elite. He names Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto as the only true top‑tier talents.

Why it matters:

• Baldisserri’s view is influential; his past work with champions makes his talent assessment credible.
• Driver reputation affects contract length, sponsorship and team development plans.
• Haas needs to know if Bearman can evolve into a long‑term asset or if they must look elsewhere.

The details:

• Season stats: 17 points from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia; currently seventh in the drivers’ standings.
• Baldisserri’s critique: Bearman “has never really won anything” beyond controversial 2023 F4 titles, which were later stripped in Italy.
• Suzuka incident: He collided with Franco Colapinto, hit the barriers, suffered knee swelling but was back in the simulator within days and is targeting the Miami GP.

What's next:

Bearman’s next test is the Miami Grand Prix; a strong result could silence critics and secure his place at Haas for 2025, while a lackluster showing may prompt the team to consider other drivers. For Baldisserri, the comment reinforces that raw speed must translate into race‑winning consistency.