Should Lewis Hamilton finally lose interest at Ferrari and quit during the 2026 Formula 1 season or at the end of the year, RTL expert Günther Steiner believes there is a logical successor for the record world champion.
Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner has clear advice to Ferrari if superstar Lewis Hamilton doesn’t get going and tell the Italians Arrividerci.
The current Haas driver Oliver Bearman is “the logical candidate here for Ferrari,” said Steiner in the “Red Flags” podcast: “A man who is well prepared for F1 and performs.”
Bearman had already completed a race for Ferrari in 2024 when the then Scuderia regular driver Carlos Sainz was out due to an appendix operation. The Brit was convincing and secured a cockpit with Ferrari’s partner team Haas for 2025. Bearman also went through the Scuderia’s youth academy.
Video: Formula 1 star’s cheeky underpants comeback
At the start of the preseason, Bearman was already fast, “but made mistakes,” said Steiner, looking back on the 20-year-old’s first full season. “But in the second half of the season he got rid of them at the push of a button.”
Bearman “fought hard and we all know that he can overtake,” praised the RTL expert. “I think the door should be open for him at Ferrari for 2027 because if Lewis doesn’t have the success he needs, I don’t think he’ll continue.”
Formula 1: “Then Bearman gets in the car – done”
RTL commentator Christian Danner assessed the matter similarly sport.de-Conclusion of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
“Bearman has a real basic speed, it’s insane and that’s also an issue for Lewis Hamilton. If he continues to be a bitch at Ferrari, he’ll be put on the road and Bearman gets into the car – that’s it,” says Danner.
In the 2025 season, Bearman “recommended himself for higher things, no question about it. He is under contract with Ferrari and of course they speculate: If Hamilton throws in the towel and doesn’t feel like it anymore, then with Bearman they immediately have someone they can put in and it will work.”