Ferrari warned that one F1 rival could pursure Oliver Bearman after brilliant debut

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Ferrari should be wary of losing young star Oliver Bearman to a rival Formula 1 team, according to one journalist.

Bearman won driver of the day at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he deputised for an unwell Carlos Sainz and finished in seventh place.

But Jack Benyon, a journalist for The Race, doesn’t believe his future with the Prancing Horse is certain.

Bearman, 18, has just begun his second season in Formula 2 with Prema after finishing sixth in the championship last year.

It’s unclear if Ferrari will need him at the Australian Grand Prix in a fortnight’s time, or whether Sainz will be fit to return after appendicitis.

But Bearman will definitely appear in multiple F1 weekends this season as he prepares for six FP1 sessions with the Haas team.

Both of the American outfit’s drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, are out of contract at the end of the season.

However, the doors to Ferrari itself appear to be shut, with Lewis Hamilton set to join in 2025 alongside Charles Leclerc.

Red Bull may push for Oliver Bearman, journalist warns

While Bearman brought home six points for Ferrari, Benyon reckons that his performance may actually have made life more difficult for the Italian marquee.

He’s urged the teenager not to accept a seat at the ‘inferior’ Haas team when he’s already shown he’s ‘ready’ to drive at the top level.

And he wonders if Red Bull may start sniffing round at the sign of any frustration.

Benyon feels that the Bulls won’t be impressed by the performances of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda at sister team Visa Cash App RB.

Instead, they may want a young driver who offers a more compelling alternative to Sergio Perez.

“I wonder if this race might have made it tough for Ferrari to hold onto Bearman with its line-up set to the end of 2026,” he said.

“If I’m Bearman or his management, I’m very interested in what this race has done for the market and very uninterested in say, for example, a Haas seat for two years until Lewis Hamilton decides to retire or leave Ferrari.

“Bearman’s clearly ready to drive at this level now and why should he agree to condemning himself to an inferior team for two seasons?

“Could Red Bull step in, for example?

“I’ve been underwhelmed with Daniel Ricciardo versus Yuki Tsunoda but even if Tsunoda wins that battle – to add to the other team-mates he’s seen off or impressed against – he doesn’t look like he’ll ever get a chance in the top team. So you have to wonder if there’s a Plan-B to replace Sergio Perez.

“None of Red Bull’s juniors are anywhere near as polished, quick or blatantly ready as Bearman, and Liam Lawson is impressive but his chance might have been and gone.

“Red Bull could be just one team with its eyes well and truly open to Bearman’s potential and willing to sign him at any cost.

“I’m sure others will have had their interests piqued too.”

Bearman could take Max Verstappen route

While Hamilton jumped straight from F2 to a race-winning F1 car with McLaren in 2007, many of the other top drivers on the grid have had to bide their time.

Leclerc, for instance, spent a year at Sauber before succeeding Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, while George Russell plugged away at Williams for three years until Mercedes promoted him.

Even three-time world champion Max Verstappen was forced to be patient as Red Bull kept him at Toro Rosso for more than a season.

Bearman knows that Hamilton, who will turn 40 next January, is unlikely to be at Ferrari long-term.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has already hinted that he’s keen on the idea of hiring the Briton, describing him as a ‘total package’.