Oliver Bearman reacts to sudden Red Bull rumours

Oliver Bearman has admitted the speculation that Red Bull is closely monitoring his progress is "flattering" as he continues to impress in his second full F1 season.

At the British Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft revealed the Laurent Mekies-led team is "keeping tabs" on the Haas driver, in case Max Verstappen seeks out pastures new in the paddock.

Ahead of the subsequent round at Spa-Francorchamps, the 21-year-old was asked about the unexpected speculation, to which he underlined the point that it remains just a rumour.

"It's quite flattering to hear things like that, with a team like Red Bull who are incredibly successful, and to be connected with them in any way, even if it's just rumours, is very nice," Bearman told media, including RacingNews365.

"But, as I said, it's just rumours, and I'm fully focused on what I'm doing here with Haas at the moment."

Whilst safe from losing his F1 seat, Bearman is facing an uncertain future. He is contracted to Ferrari having graduated from the Scuderia's driver academy, and has had the measure of Esteban Ocon.

However, despite being widely tipped to move up the grid as his career progresses, his pathway to the Italian team is blocked by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as the former holds a recently-extended long-term contract, and the latter is enjoying a return to form this campaign.

Having made his F1 debut for the Maranello-based team when he deputised for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2024, the expectation has long been that he is a full-time Ferrari driver in waiting.

"Well, I hope so," the British driver said on whether his future would lie with the Scuderia.

"I don't have a full say in that, but Ferrari have trusted me from the very beginning in Formula 3, and put me in their car in 2024 as well, and are really the reason that I'm here right now.

"But at the moment I'm enjoying what I'm doing with Haas, and the faster I can go now, the easier I make my life in the future."

When asked whether Ferrari had given him any indication as to what his future with the team looks like, Bearman replied: "No. At the moment, I don't have a contract for next year, so [I'm] just waiting in the dark.

Although when it was queried whether he was a 'true free agent' for 2027, Bearman, who is understood to have an option with Haas for next year, denied that was the case, adding: "No, no; that's not what I said. No."