Red Bull must poach Lewis Hamilton replacement if Max Verstappen quits | F1 | Sport

The assumption for some time has been that, should Max Verstappen swap Red Bull for McLaren in 2027, then Oscar Piastri would head the other way. But a straight swap of drivers is no foregone conclusion as Red Bull have identified another eye-catching target.

Should they need to replace their star man, the Milton Keynes-based outfit could launch an audacious swoop for Oliver Bearman. The 21-year-old Brit has largely impressed since landing a permanent spot on the Formula One grid, having debuted for Ferrari as a teenager. He has built on his strong start by leading the charge for Haas, scoring 18 points for the American outfit so far this year.

Bearman’s F1 race-winning team-mate, the much more experienced Esteban Ocon, has managed only three in the same car. His performances and results have been admired up and down the grid and Red Bull could look to take advantage of the difficult situation the Brit finds himself in.

Bearman remains a member of the Ferrari driver academy and has been groomed as the eventual successor to Lewis Hamilton‘s seat. But his chances of a 2027 promotion seem to have evaporated with Hamilton settled and firing again after a difficult debut season in red.

It is understood Hamilton has exercised a contract clause to secure his place on the 2027 grid. And the seven-time world champion said of his future several weeks ago: “I’m going to be here for quite some time, so get used to it.” Bearman, though, might not have to.

He was signed by Ferrari aged 16 and, having lived in Italy, is keen to race for the Scuderia full-time. Last winter, he told Express Sport in an exclusive interview: “I want to win races and championships eventually, and that’s the team I want to do it with.” But he also won’t want to be stuck in the midfield for longer than he needs to and Red Bull could offer him a more swift route to the front of the grid.

Verstappen’s camp has initiated talks with McLaren over a potential 2027 switch amid tensions between the Dutchman and Red Bull’s Austria-based executives. They are frustrated that their star driver has refused to give verbal assurances that he will not trigger his exit clause, while Verstappen is said to want improved contract terms.

He is already the highest paid driver in F1, earning north of £50million per year, but that deal was signed in early 2022, after his first championship success. Verstappen has won three more titles since while F1 has experienced an economic boom, with even small teams now valued at over £1billion.

It is understood each side is frustrated at a perceived lack of loyalty from the other, while Red Bull’s lack of on-track competitiveness is not helping. As it stands, Verstappen staying put is probably still the most likely outcome this year. But that may be more due to a lack of viable alternative options, with Mercedes now committed to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and Ferrari also full.

McLaren say they are too, while Piastri’s manager Mark Webber has denounced claims his client is pushing to leave as “nonsense”. But Zak Brown‘s commitment to his drivers will be tested should Verstappen’s camp indicate a firm desire to make the move. And Red Bull have to consider what life after Verstappen might look like.

Team principal Laurent Mekies knows Bearman well, having signed him to Ferrari’s academy when he was sporting director at Maranello. And the Frenchman is said to be keeping a close eye on Bearman’s development at Haas.

Mekies would certainly much prefer not to lose Verstappen. But if he does, his solution may be to make Bearman the fourth Brit to race of one of F1’s big teams, along with Hamilton, Russell and Lando Norris at McLaren.