Ferrari have seen exactly what they ‘privately’ want from Oliver Bearman to replace Lewis Hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton is enduring a “nightmare” during his first season at Ferrari, but Oliver Bearman is showing at Haas why he is likely in line to one day replace his compatriot.

The Scuderia welcomed Hamilton to Maranello in the 2025 F1 season to replace Carlos Sainz on an initial two-year contract. Yet Ferrari also kept an eye on the future by agreeing to send academy product Bearman to Haas on a two-year loan deal for his rookie F1 season in 2025.

Haas are an engine customer team of Ferrari, but also share very close ties with the pride of Italy and have offices in the Scuderia’s Gestione Sportiva factory. The ties also saw Bearman serve as a reserve driver for Haas, as well as Ferrari, during 2024 before gaining a race seat.

Bearman has so far earned 40 points through his 21 appearances as a full-time F1 driver for Haas in 2025, having also made two cameos for the American squad and one with Ferrari in 2024. He has also scored points in each of the past four Grands Prix, including P4 in Mexico.

Ferrari were keen to see Oliver Bearman deliver the consistency that Haas are now enjoying

Haas revered as Bearman scored his career-best result with P4 in the Mexico City GP, having even briefly fought for a potential maiden podium. And it is the 20-year-old’s consistency of late that has caught Ferrari’s eye at a time when Hamilton’s future has been in the spotlight.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know

According to The Athletic, Ferrari ‘never doubted’ Bearman’s pace after seeing what he was capable of in the junior categories and as their F1 reserve driver. But Ferrari were ‘privately’ keen to see Bearman match his speed with consistency, which is exactly what he is realising.

Bearman scored points in three of the first four Grands Prix to start the 2025 F1 season back in China (P8), Japan and Bahrain (P10). Yet he only claimed points in one of the following 13 Grands Prix, plus one F1 Sprint, before securing top-10 finishes in each of the last four races.

The Havering native was consistent during his points drought, as well, with four straight P11 finishes over the Grands Prix in Canada, Austria, Great Britain and Belgium. Bearman took a 10-place grid penalty after crashing under a red flag at Silverstone, yet rose from P18 to P11.

Ferrari see Oliver Bearman as a natural replacement for Lewis Hamilton

Bearman’s encouraging consistency for Haas has also come at a time when Hamilton admits he is living a “nightmare” at Ferrari. The seven-time F1 champion has yet to achieve a single Grand Prix podium finish for the Scuderia through the first 21/24 rounds of the 2025 season.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Hamilton’s plight since joining Ferrari has also drawn suggestions that the 40-year-old might walk away when his contract expires at the end of the 2026 season. Claims are also growing that Bearman is the driver likely best in line to replace Hamilton at Ferrari, possibly in 2027.

It is even said that Ferrari fear a rival F1 team may try to sign Bearman and tempt the Briton to reject a move to Maranello when Hamilton leaves. So, Ferrari could look to sign Bearman to replace Hamilton before 2027, which would be the most natural time to make the switch.