Ferrari hopeful Bearman told to 'keep reminding' team of his credentials for future seat

Ferrari Driver Academy member Oliver Bearman is receiving high praise for his strong start to the 2026 F1 season with Haas, with former driver Karun Chandhok advising the Briton to consistently prove he is the top candidate for a future seat at the Scuderia. Bearman has scored 17 of Haas's 18 points this year, solidly outperforming teammate Esteban Ocon and positioning himself as a standout performer in the midfield.

Why it matters:

With Lewis Hamilton's long-term future uncertain and Charles Leclerc's contract situation a perennial topic, Ferrari will eventually need to consider its next generation of drivers. Bearman, as a member of the Ferrari academy racing for a customer team, is in a prime position to be that successor—but he must continuously demonstrate he is the undeniable choice through on-track performance.

The details:

• Bearman sits fifth in the Drivers' Championship, having secured 17 points for Haas in the opening rounds, comprehensively outperforming experienced teammate Esteban Ocon in both qualifying and race sessions.
• This continues a trend from his rookie 2025 season, where he beat Ocon 14-10 in their qualifying head-to-head battles.
• Former F1 driver and Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok highlighted Bearman's "brilliant job," noting he has "picked up from where he left off last season."
• Chandhok specifically advised that Bearman's goal must be to "keep reminding Ferrari that he's there" for when a seat eventually opens, putting himself in "pole position."
• The performance is also a boost for Haas, which Chandhok praised for producing a car that is "arguably best of the rest" behind the top teams despite its relatively small workforce.

What's next:

The immediate focus for Bearman is maintaining this high level of performance throughout the 2026 season. Every strong qualifying result, points finish, and head-to-head victory over Ocon serves as a direct audition for Maranello. His path is clear: continue to be the most convincing candidate on the grid, ensuring that when Ferrari does look to its future lineup, his name is at the very top of the list.