British driver Oliver Bearman says he is “agile” about speculation linking him with Red Bull amid ongoing uncertainty over Max Verstappen’s future with the team.
Verstappen has a Red Bull contract until 2028, but his representatives are believed to have held talks with McLaren in the past month as the four-time world champion weighs up his options for next year.
Since then, Haas’ Bearman has been rumored to be of potential interest to Red Bull in the future, and the British driver was asked about the links ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.
“It’s quite flattering to hear that sort of thing, with a team like Red Bull who are incredibly successful and to be associated with them in any way, even if it’s just rumours, is very nice,” said Bearman, who is midway through 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 at the moment.”
Bearman has been a Ferrari junior since 2022 and made his debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the Scuderia as a replacement for Carlos Sainz, who underwent surgery for appendicitis.
He made his full F1 debut last year for Haas but had the upper hand over teammate Esteban Ocon, a trend that has continued this season.
The 21-year-old, who does not have a contract until 2027, has previously stated that his “ultimate goal” is a future Ferrari seat and would rather be at Ferrari than Red Bull if given the choice, but is “waiting in the dark”.
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Ollie Bearman is reduced to tears after driving Ayrton Senna’s 1985 Lotus 97T, the car Senna drove to his first ever Formula 1 victory
“I don’t have a full, let’s say, say in it. But Ferrari has trusted me from the very beginning in Formula 3 and also put me in that car in 2024,” he said.
“They’re really the reason I’m here right now. At the moment I’m enjoying what I’m doing with Haas, and the faster I can go now, the easier I make my life in the future.”
Verstappen is tight-lipped about the future
As for Verstappen, he is believed to have until October to decide whether he wants to stay with Red Bull in 2027.
The Dutchman is free to activate a clause in his contract which will allow him to leave at the end of this 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’ve already said many times that if there was something new, I would say it myself,” said Verstappen.
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Relive Max Verstappen’s troubled 2026 season, with the Red Bull driver slightly more troubled in the first nine races
The main 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 making their own power unit for the first time, Red Bull was deemed to have the best engine by the FIA, but has lacked cornering performance due to aerodynamic and chassis deficiencies.
But Verstappen was within two seconds of victory just two races ago at the Austrian Grand Prix before crashing out with a rear wing failure at the British Grand Prix – the second active aero-related issue to lead 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’re just looking at the future and trying to solve the current problems that we have on the car, but it’s a very open discussion,” Verstappen said.
“Sometimes you get a little bit disappointed or upset after a race, but for example after Silverstone you go home, then you reset. On Wednesday I was back at the factory and then you prepare again for the weekends ahead. That’s how we’ve worked all these years together.
“Obviously, some years you’re just a bit more competitive than others, but in terms of my approach and how we work as a team, nothing really changes.”
Sky Sports F1’s Belgian GP programme
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments over the years at the Belgian Grand Prix
Friday, July 17
8.50: F3 Exercise
10:00: F2 practice
12:00: Belgian GP Practice One (session starts at 12:30)
14:00: F3 qualifying
14.55: F2 qualification
3.30pm: Belgian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
17.15: The F1 show
Saturday 18 July
9:00: F3 Sprint
11.15: Belgian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30)
13.15: F2 Sprint
14.15: Belgian GP qualifying build-up*
15:00: BELGIAN GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday, July 19
7.30: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
10.45am: Porsche Supercup
12.30: Belgian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
14.00: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
16:00: Belgian GP reaction: Checkered Flag
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula One’s summer run continues with the Belgian Grand Prix at legendary Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime