Ferrari told Lewis Hamilton replacement is 'ready'

Guenther Steiner has told Ferrari that Oliver Bearman is now ready to step up to a front-running team, positioning the 21-year-old as the obvious candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton when the seven-time F1 drivers' champion eventually retires.

The Italian, who oversaw Bearman's early F1 development during his tenure as Haas team principal, believes the Ferrari Driver Academy graduate has reached the point where he needs a car capable of fighting for podiums and victories.

"I think Oliver now is ready to go to a team where he can win races or at least go to the podium," Steiner told Casino.org. "He is very young, though, and we can't forget that. So, he will need to be patient."

Bearman's rapid progression has been underlined by a strong start to the 2026 season with Haas, where he currently sits eighth in the drivers' championship with 17 points after four rounds.

The British driver finished seventh on his season debut in Melbourne before securing fifth place at the Chinese Grand Prix, his best result since his stunning fourth place in Mexico City last year.

That performance in Shanghai, where he battled with front-runners and demonstrated mature racecraft, has reinforced the perception within the paddock that Bearman possesses the raw speed and composure required for a top seat.

His 2026 form has underlined the marked improvement in consistency he displayed towards the end of his rookie campaign, when he scored six times across the final 10 rounds of the season

Whilst Bearman remains contracted to both Ferrari and Haas, Steiner suggested his deal likely includes provisions allowing him to move to a leading team should an opportunity arise before a Ferrari seat becomes available.

"He will likely have some clauses in his contract with Ferrari that, should an offer come along for one of the leading teams, that he can leave Haas and go there, because that's his next move," Steiner explained.

"He's had his learning with Haas, he had good results last year with Haas, he will have good results this year, but then you need to move on if you want to go to the podium."

Steiner emphasised that whilst Bearman has demonstrated the talent required to fight at the front, Haas's current competitive level limits his potential to showcase what he can do.

The Hamilton factor

The timing of Bearman's potential promotion hinges largely on Hamilton's future at Ferrari. The 41-year-old is on a multi-year deal with the Scuderia that is widely believed to run through at least 2027, though Ferrari has never publicly confirmed the contract's end date.

Hamilton has shown improved form in 2026 compared to a difficult debut season, securing his first Ferrari podium with third place in China.

Yet speculation persists about how long the 105-time grand prix winner will continue racing, particularly if Ferrari cannot provide him with a title-winning car.

"I don't know exactly what his Ferrari contract says, but obviously, it would be good for him if he ends up at Ferrari," Steiner said of Bearman.

"And it would be good for Ferrari because they have supported him for a long time, and they could have one of their own in their car, like with Charles Leclerc."

Steiner drew parallels between Bearman's development path and that of Leclerc, who also completed his first FP1 sessions with Haas whilst part of the Ferrari Driver Academy before graduating to the Scuderia.

"But I don't know, it depends on how long Lewis stays around," he concluded.