Steiner: '50/50' chance this driver will be new Verstappen

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari reserve and current F2 driver Oliver Bearman is a good option for Haas, with there being a "50/50" chance he could be the next Max Verstappen.

With Nico Hulkenberg moving to Stake F1/Audi in 2025, there is at least one seat available at Haas next season. 

Kevin Magnussen's seat could also become available, should the Dane not be offered a contract extension. One contender for a seat with the Ferrari customer team is Bearman, who is a favourite to race for the side next season. 

Despite racing for PREMA in F2, the young Briton made his competitive F1 debut earlier this season, in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Bearman stood in for Carlos Sainz from third practice onwards as a result of the Spaniard requiring an immediate Appendectomy. 

Staggeringly, Bearman qualified P11 on his debut and went onto finish seventh, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.

Prior to his competitive debut which impressed Steiner, Bearman had made appearances for Haas in FP1. Steiner thinks signing Bearman would be a good decision by Haas.

"I think Oliver Bearman is a good move for Haas," said Steiner on The Red Flags Podcast. 

"Bearman did well in the Ferrari, even if it was only one race, and I think he knows himself. It's a little too early to say, 'This is the now the new Max Verstappen."  

Haas 'waiting list'

Despite Bearman clearly being a huge talent at just 19 years old, Steiner assumes that there is a "good waiting list" of drivers looking at Haas as an option for 2025. 

With so many drivers being out-of-contract, there is expected to be plenty of driver market action, in particular at Alpine as both Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are in need of new deals. 

However, Steiner believes that Gasly's and Ocon's financial demands are likely to be too large for Haas, especially when the likes of Bearman would be cheaper. 

Steiner points out there is a chance Bearman could be the next big thing, although Haas would also have to acknowledge that there is the possibility the Briton might not be it. 

"He could be it, but it's also 50/50. You have no certainty that it will be him," the former Haas team boss said.

"I think there is a good waiting list. I would say that the two Alpine drivers are looking around, although I think their demands in terms of money are higher than what Haas can offer."