Ollie Bearman’s Ferrari F1 hopes boosted by Karun Chandhok's verdict on Haas progress

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok has urged Ollie Bearman to keep reminding Ferrari that he is ready for when a seat becomes available at the Maranello outfit. 

Thrown into the deep end at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he stood in for Carlos Sainz, Bearman impressed by scoring points on his debut. His performance, and further outings with Haas in the same year, secured him a full-time seat with the American outfit in 2025. 

During his rookie season, he outperformed his experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon and has continued to do so in the first three rounds of 2026. This, along with his long-standing relationship with the Fred Vasseur-led team as a Ferrari Driver Academy member, has linked the 20-year-old driver to a future contract with Ferrari.

"Ollie Bearman has done a brilliant job, really picked up from where he left off last season where he outperformed Esteban Ocon," Chandhok explained during the Sky Sports F1 Show. 

"I think Haas has done a good job. They've come out of the blocks with a bang. They are one of the smallest teams in terms of the workforce on the grid, and they've come out with a car that is arguably best of the rest behind the top teams.

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

"Ollie's just got to keep reminding Ferrari that he's there. That's his goal, right? Is to remind Ferrari that when the day comes when Lewis [Hamilton] decides he's had enough or Charles [Leclerc] decides he might want to move on, Ollie's there in full position to take that seat. And so far, you'd have to say he's done a great job of it."

Bearman currently sits seventh in the drivers' standings with 17 points, whereas Ocon is 15th with one point.

The next race is the Miami Grand Prix, which will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium from 1-3 May.