Bearman says he has 'what it takes to be world champion' as he eyes Ferrari seat

[p]At just 21, the Englishman started his second full season strongly for Haas, with top-10 finishes in the first two races, but has since picked up only one more point.[/p][p]Part of a quintet of youngsters in the paddock, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bearman-oliver/tMI3u5xo/"]Bearman[/a] trails behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/colapinto-franco/GzFqySBA/"]Franco Colapinto[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hadjar-isack/8SAk38Ui/"]Isack Hadjar[/a], in their early twenties, as well as 18-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lindblad-arvid/bgk1rl5a/"]Arvid Lindblad[/a].[/p][p]But they have all been overshadowed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Kimi Antonelli[/a], who turns 20 next month and tops the driver standings with more points than the other four put together.[/p][embed guid="5cf9bfc8-e655-4ed0-be76-f73394177d6f" url="https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/2080652875114443064" social-type="twitter" /][p]Talking exclusively to AFP, Bearman said that having competed with Antonelli at youth level, he is encouraged by the Italian's success.[/p][p][b]"I raced alongside Kimi. I was comparing myself with him for one year," [/b]said Bearman.[/p][p][b]"He's racing in the World Championship fight, so that gives me confidence that one day, if I have the best car, I can do the same.[/b][/p][p][b]"I know I have what it takes to become a world champion."[/b][/p][p]Nonetheless, Bearman conceded that "there's a lot of external factors which are out of the driver's hands".[/p][p][b]"There's been lots of drivers who are deserving of a world champion who never got it," [/b]the Chelmsford native said.[/p][p][b]"I have the confidence in myself that I have what it takes.[/b][/p][p][b]"If you don't have that, then you shouldn't turn up to the track."[/b][/p][embed guid="4efcf56c-5567-465b-8952-41de8dea015b" url="https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/2080585199797088658" social-type="twitter" /][p]He said he is progressing as a driver even though Haas are battling to stay competitive.[/p][p][b]"We started incredibly strong, which is a really cool moment for the team and everybody. In terms of personal performance, I feel like I'm in a really good place. I'm really happy with what I'm doing,"[/b] Bearman said.[/p][p]Bearman joined the Ferrari driver academy aged 16. At 18, he became the Scuderia's youngest Formula 1 driver when he finished seventh in Saudi Arabia in 2024. Later that season, he raced twice for Ferrari-powered Haas, recording a pair of top-10 finishes.[/p][p]Last season, Bearman became a full-time Haas driver. The high point was fourth place in Mexico, which, in the team's 11th season, was one of their best-ever finishes.[/p][p]The Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps last weekend was the 10th of potentially 24 scheduled races this season.[/p][p][b]"I see a good amount of evolution, a good amount of growth," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"If I compare what I was doing, my mindset heading into Spa last year versus this year, I'm a much more complete driver. I've learned so much. I understand my place within the team. I understand how to get the most out of the team and the most out of myself as well."[/b][/p][h2]'Love to drive in red again'[/h2][p]In the new hybrid-car era, with teams continually updating their cars as they grapple with the technological challenges, Bearman said that mid-table rivals Racing Bulls, Alpine and Audi "seem to have jumped ahead of us".[/p][p][b]"It's also a big motivator for us to keep pushing," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"After the summer break, we have some more stuff coming and hopefully that can get us back to where we started this season.[/b][/p][p][b]"I feel like I'm performing at a really good level, but the car is not giving me what it takes to get in the points."[/b][/p][embed guid="01e0e43d-0163-4600-ac8b-07e08e83fa24" url="https://x.com/SkySportsF1/status/2080630303102505286" social-type="twitter" /][p]As Formula 1 approaches its annual game of musical car seats, Bearman's future is uncertain.[/p][p]"I don't have a contract for next year. It's tough on one hand because it's not nice to be unsure about what the future holds," he said, adding: [b]"I'm deserving of a seat in Formula 1.[/b][/p][p][b]"I have had a lot of trust put in me by Ferrari, who put me here.[/b][/p][p][b]"I would love to drive in red again one day."[/b][/p]