Guenther Steiner has told Ferrari that Oliver Bearman is now ready to step up to a front-running team, positioning the 21-year-old as the obvious candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton when the seven-time F1 drivers' champion eventually retires.
The Italian, who oversaw Bearman's early F1 development during his tenure as Haas team principal, believes the Ferrari Driver Academy graduate has reached the point where he needs a car capable of fighting for podiums and victories.
"I think Oliver now is ready to go to a team where he can win races or at least go to the podium," Steiner told Casino.org. "He is very young, though, and we can't forget that. So, he will need to be patient."
Bearman's rapid progression has been underlined by a strong start to the 2026 season with Haas, where he currently sits eighth in the drivers' championship with 17 points after four rounds.
The British driver finished seventh on his season debut in Melbourne before securing fifth place at the Chinese Grand Prix, his best result since his stunning fourth place in Mexico City last year.
That performance in Shanghai, where he battled with front-runners and demonstrated mature racecraft, has reinforced the perception within the paddock that Bearman possesses the raw speed and composure required for a top seat.
His 2026 form has underlined the marked improvement in consistency he displayed towards the end of his rookie campaign, when he scored six times across the final 10 rounds of the season
Whilst Bearman remains contracted to both Ferrari and Haas, Steiner suggested his deal likely includes provisions allowing him to move to a leading team should an opportunity arise before a Ferrari seat becomes available.