The prospect of Oliver Bearman stepping into a Red Bull cockpit has split RacingNews365 readers almost perfectly down the middle, with opinion firmly divided on whether the 21-year-old Haas driver would be the right man to replace Max Verstappen should the four-time F1 drivers' champion depart the Milton Keynes-based team.
A significant portion of voters believe Bearman has done enough to warrant a seat at a front-running team, pointing to his impressive early career trajectory and the lack of a clear promotion path at Ferrari, where both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton remain contracted on long-term deals.
The counter-argument, however, proved equally compelling, with the same share of readers insisting that more experienced and proven talents, such as George Russell or Oscar Piastri, would be the superior choice.
What lends this debate particular intrigue is that Red Bull's interest in Bearman is far from hypothetical. Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft revealed during the British Grand Prix that Red Bull are actively tracking the young Briton's progress.
"I know Red Bull are keeping very close tabs on Ollie Bearman," Croft said, before adding: "If he hasn't got a way into the Scuderia, that might be a very good option for Red Bull and for Ollie."
Croft also highlighted the existing relationship between Bearman and Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, noting: "Laurent Mekies, the team principal, was the man that signed Ollie Bearman to the Ferrari Academy."
That connection matters because Bearman's route into a Ferrari race seat appears firmly closed for the foreseeable future.
With Leclerc tied down long-term and Hamilton's multi-year deal running alongside, there is simply no vacancy at the Scuderia. Bearman remains contracted to Ferrari and on loan at Haas under a reported 2+1 deal structure, but being a leading academy talent counts for little when both seats above are occupied.
A small but notable group of voters remained undecided, suggesting Bearman needs more time to prove himself before such a leap.
The Haas driver himself was quick to highlight that they are "just rumours" when speaking at the Belgian Grand Prix, even though he did concede he was "flattered" by the speculation.
Check out the full results from the latest poll by RacingNews365 below!
Should Red Bull consider signing Oliver Bearman if it needs a replacement for Max Verstappen?
| Answer | Share of vote | |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, he is an impressive young talent and has earned a more competitive opportunity | 41.67% | |
| No, there will likely be more experienced and more promising drivers available, like George Russell or Oscar Piastri | 41.67% | |
| Not sure, he's still early in his F1 career and needs more time before a move to a big team | 16.67% |
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Nick Golding and Samuel Coop as they look ahead to this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix! The significance of Spa-Francorchamps for Ferrari in regard to its title chances is a lead talking point, as is Red Bull's rear wing.
Rather watch this episode? Then click here!
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!