Oliver Bearman seeks contract extension with Haas F1 team
Oliver Bearman aims to sign a contract extension with Haas for the 2027 season despite the team not yet confirming his position. Team principal Ayao Komatsu dismissed rumors regarding a 6 million euro salary demand as absolute nonsense during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
Bearman targets Haas extension
Oliver Bearman intends to sign a contract extension with Haas for the 2027 season. Although the driver aims to remain with the American squad, the team has not officially confirmed his position alongside rookie Rafael Camara. Haas announced earlier this month that the 21-year-old Camara will join the team next season on a multi-year deal to replace Esteban Ocon. Camara, a Ferrari prospect, currently leads the Formula 2 standings. The Briton, who has accrued 44 starts for the team since his 2024 debut in Baku, told media members ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix that the timing of the announcement is not in his hands. He stated, "If it was up to me, it would have already been announced a long time ago." Bearman also explained that there are a few things in the background that the team is working on, but continuing with Haas remains his target. He noted that Ferrari continues to have an active role in his placement.
Komatsu denies salary rumors
Ayao Komatsu dismissed reports that excessive wage demands caused the delay in Bearman’s contract negotiations. Speculation suggested the driver holds out for a pay rise of at least €6 million. At the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Komatsu called these claims "absolute nonsense" during the opening practice session. He stated he had no idea where the €6 million figure originated and noted he first saw the claim on Instagram after it was forwarded to him by the team’s head of communications, Stu Morrison. "I don’t know who smoked up this €6 million number," Komatsu said. He expressed frustration with those using social media to stir up interest. He noted that people often copy and paste stories to get more clicks and likes. He also referenced a previous rumor regarding an argument with Esteban Ocon in Miami, which he described as containing "absolutely zero truth." He added that even those claiming to have insider information are spreading "total nonsense." Komatsu refused to provide specific contractual details regarding the hold-up, though he believes the situation is all on the contractual side. He insisted that both parties want to continue working together because they work well together and push each other. He added that he has no comments to make because the rumor is not even close to the truth.
Driver standings and team shifts
| Driver | Points Scored | Championship Position |
|---|---|---|
| Oliver Bearman | 23 | 13th |
Bearman’s performance this season puts him 13th in the drivers’ standings with 23 points. He remains 16 points ahead of his teammate, Esteban Ocon. The 21-year-old driver has only added to his points tally once in the last 13 rounds because of performance struggles at Haas. He recently achieved his best Formula 1 result at the Mexico City circuit, where he finished fourth. Ocon, who will leave Haas at the end of this campaign, speaks with several teams to find a seat for 2027. He told media that he feels he has "unfinished business" in F1 and still has a lot of things to achieve. He declined to comment on reports linking him with Cadillac, where a seat alongside Sergio Perez could be available.
