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Oliver Bearman isn’t packing his bags for Ferrari just yet, despite a standout performance in Mexico City that made the idea suddenly seem plausible. His calm, confident charge from ninth to fourth — including his third consecutive Q3 appearance and a brief spell running in P3 — pushed the rookie into the spotlight as a potential future star for the Scuderia.
Predictably, the speculation machine kicked into gear. Many began framing Bearman as the natural successor to Lewis Hamilton once the seven-time world champion decides to retire. But in São Paulo, Bearman quickly cooled the hype. He stressed that one strong result doesn’t define a career, and that the chatter swings wildly depending on his most recent performance.
What made Mexico so compelling was how battle-tested Bearman looked. He went wheel-to-wheel with Max Verstappen, later admitting he was terrified in the moment, yet held his nerve to fend off Oscar Piastri and secure fourth — equalling Haas’ best-ever finish. It was a measured, confident display against some of F1’s biggest names.
Praise arrived instantly. Martin Brundle labelled him “outstanding” and suggested Bearman should be first in line for the next available Ferrari seat. James Hinchcliffe took the idea further, calling him Hamilton’s logical successor whenever the veteran decides to step away.
Adding more fuel to the conversation, ESPN reported that key figures within Ferrari may not plan to extend Hamilton’s contract after its current term. If that scenario unfolds, Bearman would appear an obvious and timely fit for the team’s future plans.