What lies beneath the "sheer absurdity" of the Oliver Bearman contract speculations?
The season for Formula 1 driver contracts was assumed to be concluded, yet an unusual assertion concerning one of the few remaining drivers without a contract has gained unexpected momentum ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix weekend.
The Haas F1 team has already declared Esteban Ocon's departure in favor of Formula 2 standout Rafael Camara for the next season, but a noticeable delay in confirming Oliver Bearman for 2027 has stirred up speculation. One of the more outrageous claims suggests that Bearman's management is seeking a fee of €6 million.
This figure reportedly originates from an amateur blogger claiming to possess insider knowledge about F1 business dealings, and the assertion has been further circulated without verification by various websites and social media ‘influencers'. As is often the case with such narratives, it reached a point of repetition where it was accepted as truth.
Understandably, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu reacted with clear annoyance when questioned about Bearman's alleged demands during the FIA's Friday press conference.
"Can you clarify, do you understand where that comes from? No? Exactly. Neither do I," Komatsu stated.
"I have no clue where that comes from. I've encountered this at times during the season as well – people assert there's no smoke without fire, but there are indeed individuals who fabricate stories.
"You know what happened in Miami; apparently, I had a dispute with Esteban Ocon – that is completely false. And those claiming they have insider information – it's absolute nonsense.
"And this one, once again, I can't fathom who conjured up this €6 million figure. The first time I came across it was on Instagram or something that Stu [Morrison, head of communications] forwarded to me. I thought, ‘Oh great, someone deemed this a good idea to stir things up'.
"I have nothing to say because it's not even remotely accurate. Why do we engage in such utter nonsense? What’s the purpose? Those individuals clearly aren't interested in getting anything right; it’s astonishing these days that people don’t verify their sources – ‘So, I want to garner more clicks, I want to rack up more likes’, so they copy and paste these stories and continue to circulate them. And before long, there are 20 people sharing the stories, believing it's the truth – it's absolute nonsense."
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team
Motorsport.com has learned that the holdup in finalizing terms has more intricate roots. According to sources within Ferrari, Bearman's management has been advocating for guarantees that he will have a pathway to a race seat with the Scuderia in 2028, assuming that Lewis Hamilton will retire by then.
As reported last week, Camara's advancement to an F1 seat with Haas means Bearman now faces a direct competitor should a Ferrari seat open up. The longer the delay, the more experience Camara accumulates.
"I prefer not to delve into the specifics of our contract, but Ollie is demonstrating remarkable potential," Komatsu remarked. "He is contributing significantly to the team's success, and we aspire to develop together. We aim to advance on the grid as a team.
"So, first and foremost, we need a competitive car for '27. It's going to be a challenging task because we made a mistake in '26, which is impacting '27 as well. However, our primary focus is to maximize everything within our control, genuinely striving to roll out a competitive car for '27."
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