Ollie Bearman is doing exactly what he needs to do at Haas to remain a strong candidate for a future Ferrari seat, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok, who praised both the driver’s performance and Haas’s strong start to the 2026 season.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show, as reported by Motorsport.com, Chandhok highlighted Bearman’s continued dominance over experienced teammate Esteban Ocon through the opening three rounds of 2026.
Bearman continues strong form into second season
Bearman currently sits seventh in the drivers’ championship with 17 points, while Ocon occupies 15th position with a single point. The 20-year-old British driver outperformed the Frenchman throughout his 2025 rookie campaign and has maintained that advantage into the new regulations era.
“Ollie Bearman has done a brilliant job, really picked up from where he left off last season where he outperformed Esteban Ocon,” Chandhok said.
Bearman’s path to a full-time Formula 1 seat began at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he substituted for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and scored points on his debut. That performance, combined with additional outings for Haas later in 2024, secured him the American team’s race seat for 2025 as a Ferrari Driver Academy member.
Haas emerges as best of the rest
Chandhok credited Haas with a strong start under the 2026 technical regulations, which introduced major changes including revised power units with approximately 50 percent electric power delivery and active aerodynamics.
“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.”
The former Formula 1 driver emphasized that Bearman’s task is to maintain his form and keep Ferrari aware of his readiness to step up when an opportunity arises at the Maranello team, which currently fields Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc under team principal Fred Vasseur.
“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.”
Miami Grand Prix next on calendar
Bearman will have his next opportunity to impress at the Miami Grand Prix, which takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium from May 1-3. The event represents the fourth round of the 2026 championship and Haas’s chance to consolidate its position as the leading midfield team under the new regulations.
Ferrari’s long-term driver lineup remains a topic of speculation, with Hamilton having joined from Mercedes for 2025 at age 40. Bearman’s continued development at Haas, combined with his existing relationship with Ferrari through the Driver Academy program, positions him as a logical candidate when the team considers future succession planning.