Britain's Bearman 'flattered' by Red Bull rumours amid Verstappen uncertainty

British driver Oliver Bearman says he is "flattered" by speculation linking him to 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 understood to have held talks with McLaren in the last month as the four-time world champion weighs up his options for next year.

Since then, Haas' Bearman has been rumoured 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.

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"It's quite flattering to hear things like that, to with a team like Red Bull, who are incredibly successful and to be connected 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 on team-mate Esteban Ocon, a trend which has continued this season.

The 21-year-old, who does not have a contract for 2027, has previously stated his "ultimate target" is a future Ferrari seat and would rather be at Ferrari over Red Bull, if given the choice but is "waiting in the dark".

"I don't have a full, let's say, say in in that. But Ferrari have trusted me from the very beginning in Formula 3 and put me in that car in 2024 as well," he said.

"They are really the reason that 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 tight lipped over future

As for Verstappen, he is understood to have until October to decide whether he wants to stay at Red Bull for 2027.

The Dutchman is free to activate a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave at the end of this season as he will not be top two in 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 said already many times that if there was something new, I would say it myself," said Verstappen.

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 were deemed to have the best engine by the FIA, but have been lacking performance in the corners due to aerodynamic and chassis deficiencies.

But, Verstappen was within two seconds of victory only two races ago at the Austrian Grand Prix, before he spun out due to a rear wing failure at the British Grand Prix - the second active aero-related problem, which led to a crash, in two weeks.

"We're just looking to the future, trying to fix the current issues that we have on the car, but that's a very open discussion," said Verstappen.

"Sometimes you get a little bit disappointed or upset after a race, but, for example, after Silverstone you go home, you reset. On Wednesday, I was back at the factory and then you prepare again for the weekends ahead. That's how we've been operating all the years together.

"Of course, some years you're just a little 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 schedule

Friday July 17
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Belgian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2.55pm: F2 Qualifying
3.30pm: Belgian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday July 18
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Belgian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.15pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Belgian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: BELGIAN GP QUALIFYING*

Sunday July 19
7.30am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
10.45am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Belgian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Belgian GP reaction: Chequered Flag

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1'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