Guenther Steiner already knows which driver is ‘at the top of the list’ if he returns to Formula 1

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Former Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner sounds open to returning to the sport ‘if the project is right’.

Steiner, who was let go by Haas at the end of the 2023 season, is currently focused on two-wheel racing after buying the Tech3 MotoGP team last year.

But the Drive to Survive star told Bild that he would be open to leading a new F1 team, just as he did with Haas, as long as he is able to ‘shape things and make decisions’.

Guenther Steiner explains why Oliver Bearman would be his top target

In the same interview, Steiner was asked which young driver he would sign for that hypothetical new team. Ironically, he went with the Haas driver Oliver Bearman.

Bearman made an exceptional start to the 2026 season with a P7 in Australia and a P5 in China, but he has only scored one point since after Haas fell behind Alpine and Williams.

Should Oliver Bearman look to leave the Ferrari set-up or should he bide his time?

Bearman will have to wait until 2028 for a Ferrari seat

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Still, the 20-year-old has outperformed race-winning teammate Esteban Ocon in the vast majority of sessions. Gabriel Bortoleto’s match-up with Nico Hulkenberg is closer, while another 2025 debutant in Isack Hadjar is proving to be the strongest teammate Max Verstappen has faced in years.

“Oliver Bearman belongs at the top of the list,” said Steiner. “He regularly gets more out of his car than he should. Gabriel Bortoleto also makes a strong impression and is on par with Nico Hulkenberg.

“I also really like Isack Hadjar. And Arvid Lindblad is definitely someone to watch for the future.”

Bearman is contracted to Ferrari but won’t be able to race for the Scuderia until 2028 at the earliest, with the team committed to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for now.

There have been rumours recently that Red Bull are interested in Bearman, but they would only be in a position to pursue him if Verstappen left.