(Motorsport-Total.com) – Anyone who wants to hold their own in Formula 1 must first beat the most direct benchmark: their teammate. Same car, identical technology, the same data – comparability is at its maximum. How relentless this internal showdown can be is currently being felt especially by Esteban Ocon.
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Because the established Frenchman, who has been in the premier class since 2016 with some interruptions, had a tough nut to crack last year with rookie Oliver Bearman. “The youngster came, saw, and conquered and naturally made Ocon look a bit pale somehow,” Ralf Schumacher also recalls.
“He has to change that now,” the expert is convinced in the current Sky podcast Backstage Boxengasse. “Otherwise, I think it will be more of a farewell event for him at Haas if he doesn’t show this year that he can be faster or at least on the level [of Bearman].”
Because the 20-year-old Briton, who completed his first full season in the premier class last year, collected three more World Championship points than his teammate and made a clear statement with several highlights, above all fourth place at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Team owner Haas makes “tough decisions”
For Ocon, this is a delicate situation. “With Bearman, he probably has one of the better talents who also have the potential to become world champion,” Schumacher is convinced of the young Briton’s room for development. “We’ll see about that when he’s at Ferrari.”
But that’s no excuse. “He has to perform,” the Sky expert clarifies and increases the pressure: “Otherwise, there are so many good people at the door who were strong in Formula 2 and also deserve a chance.”
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“We know that [team owner] Gene Haas is also someone who makes tough decisions and he needs performance, wants performance.” Team principal Ayao Komatsu also recently left no doubt that they “expected more” from Ocon and are demanding a clear improvement for 2026.
Oliver Bearman a candidate for Ferrari
Meanwhile, there is little doubt about Oliver Bearman’s potential, not even from Ralf Schumacher. “So I do think that Ferrari is currently looking at Bearman,” the 50-year-old is convinced, even if the Scuderia is currently well-staffed with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
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Nevertheless, rumors have circulated in recent months that Leclerc might leave the team. “But I almost don’t believe that,” says Schumacher, also with a view to the test drives so far: “By the way, the car looked good with Charles Leclerc now too.”
The decisive factor will therefore be how the situation develops with Hamilton, who “still had a bit of difficulty” and “wasn’t quite so happy either,” says the expert. “But with Charles Leclerc, it really looked quite decent.”
“Accordingly, that could be a great team,” Schumacher outlines a possible future option at Ferrari: “Leclerc now and Bearman, the man of the future, building the young man up within a short time. No question about it.”
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