Steiner: Bearman ready for top F1 seat

Guenther Steiner has told Ferrari that Oliver Bearman is now ready to move into a front-running Formula 1 seat, saying the young Brit has developed enough to fight for podiums and victories after his rapid rise through the paddock.

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

The former Haas F1 Team team principal, who played a key role in Bearman’s early F1 exposure, believes the Ferrari Driver Academy graduate has reached a natural turning point in his career, where continued progress requires a more competitive car.

Bearman’s strong start to the 2026 season has added weight to that assessment, with the 21-year-old scoring points consistently and currently sitting eighth in the drivers’ standings after four rounds. He opened the year with a seventh-place finish in Melbourne, before delivering a standout fifth place at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he showed strong race pace and composure against front-running teams.

That Shanghai performance, in particular, was seen as a breakthrough moment, with Bearman running close to the leaders and demonstrating maturity in wheel-to-wheel battles. It followed an encouraging end to his rookie campaign, where he scored points in six of the final 10 races.

“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 added.

Bearman remains under contract with both Ferrari and Haas, but Steiner suggested his agreement likely includes clauses allowing a move to a top team if an opportunity arises 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 concluded.