Oliver Bearman ‘considered’ by Red Bull rumors amid continued uncertainty over Max Verstappen’s future with the team | F1 News
British driver Oliver Bearman says he is “delighted” by speculation linking him to Red Bull amid continued uncertainty over Max Verstappen’s future with the team.
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but his representatives are understood to have held talks with McLaren last month as the four-time world champion weighs up his options for next year.
Since then, Haas’ Bearman has been rumored to be interested in Red Bull in the future, and the British driver was asked about links before this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, live. Sky Sports F1.
“It’s nice to hear things like this, with a team like Red Bull, which has been incredibly successful and to be contacted in any way, even if it’s just the best rumours,” said Bearman, who is in the middle of his second full F1 campaign.
“But like I said, it’s just rumours, and I’m fully focused on what I’m doing here with Haas right now.”
Bearman has been a Ferrari junior since 2022 and made his debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the Scuderia in place of Carlos Sainz, who underwent appendicitis surgery.
He made his F1 debut last year for Haas but had the upper hand over team-mate Esteban Ocon, a trend that has continued this season.
The 21-year-old, who is out of contract until 2027, has previously said his “biggest goal” is a future Ferrari seat and would prefer to be at Ferrari with Red Bull, given the choice but is “waiting in the dark”.
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Ollie Bearman tears up after driving Ayrton Senna’s 1985 Lotus 97T, the car that Senna drove to his first Formula 1 victory.
“I don’t have a full, let’s say, I talked about that. But Ferrari trusted me from the beginning in Formula 3 and put me in that car in 2024,” he said.
“They’re really the reasons I’m here right now. Right now I’m enjoying what I’m doing with Haas and as soon as I can go, I’m making my life easier in the future.”
Verstappen is focused on the future
As for Verstappen, it is understood that he will take until October to decide whether he wants to stay at Red Bull in 2027.
The Dutchman is free to exercise a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave at the end of the season as he will not be in the top two of the Drivers’ Championship after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last round before the summer break.
“I don’t want to go here and say yes and no, and this and that, about my future. I have said many times that if there is something new, I will say it myself,” said Verstappen.
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Relive Max Verstappen’s difficult 2026 season, where the Red Bull driver suffered numerous problems in the opening nine races.
A key factor in Verstappen’s decision will be performance and Red Bull have endured a mixed season so far as they continue to recover from a disappointing start to the year.
Despite building their own power unit for the first time, Red Bull was considered to have the best engine by the FIA, but lacked cornering performance due to aerodynamic and chassis deficiencies.
But, Verstappen was within two seconds of winning the previous two races at the Austrian Grand Prix, before pulling out with a wing failure at the British Grand Prix – the second aero-related problem, leading to a crash, in two weeks.
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On the F1 Show, Jenson Button suggests Max Verstappen should look to leave Red Bull sooner rather than later.
“We are just looking to the future, we are trying to fix the problems we have with the car, but that is a very open discussion,” said Verstappen.
“Sometimes you get a little disappointed or sad after a race, but, for example, after Silverstone goes home, you go home. On Wednesday, I was back at the factory and you prepare again for the coming weekends. That’s how we worked all these years together.
“Yes, some years you are more competitive than others, but from my perspective and the way we work as a team, nothing really changes.”
Sky Sports F1 Belgium GP schedule
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Take a look back at some of the most amazing moments throughout the years at the Belgian Grand Prix
Friday July 17th
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Belgian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2.55pm: F2 Qualifying
3.30pm: Belgian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday July 18
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Belgian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.15pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Belgian GP qualifying build-up*
3pm: BELGIAN GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday July 19
7.30am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
10.45am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Build-up to the Belgian GP: Sunday’s Grand Prix
2pm: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Belgian GP Reaction: Checked Flag
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s summer run continues with the Belgian Grand Prix at the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
