Bearman’s rise leaves Komatsu in awe: ‘I don’t see the ceiling’

Momentum is building inside the Haas F1 Team, and much of it is surging from the cockpit of 20-year-old Oliver Bearman.

After a stellar 2025 F1 debut that saw him clinch a brilliant fourth in Mexico, the British sensation has kicked off 2026 by single-handedly hauling Haas into an early fourth place in the Constructors' standings.

For team principal Ayao Komatsu, the most terrifying thing for Haas's rivals isn't just Bearman’s current speed – it’s the fact that he hasn't even come close to finding his limits, according to the Japanese engineer.

Three races in, Bearman’s sophomore campaign among motorsport’s elite has been nothing short of clinical. Before a high-speed heart-stopper with Franco Colapinto at Suzuka, the youngster out-qualified his veteran teammate Esteban Ocon in Australia and in China while finishing P7 in Melbourne and delivering a gritty fifth in Shanghai.

He has therefore accounted for 17 of the US outfit’s 18 points in F1’s Constructors’ standings.

Reflecting on the young charger’s trajectory just before last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Komatsu admitted that the team keeps moving the goalposts because Bearman simply refuses to miss.

"Extremely impressive," Komatsu said. "But again, to be fair we set a very high bar for Ollie, right? Because every time he improves."

Breaking the ceiling

While raw pace is the currency of youth, it is Bearman’s evolution into a "rounded package" that has the Haas boss beaming.

From his tireless hours in the simulator to his poise during the implementation of brand-new 2026 regulations, the Ferrari loanee is acting less like a junior and more like a seasoned team leader.

"The way he can learn and improve so quickly is part of what makes him amazing,” Komatsu explained.

“He always has this amazing speed. There's no doubt from day one. But I think the reason why I'm so excited is that I don't see the ceiling with him.”

The Haas boss, known for his pragmatic approach, couldn't hide his delight when discussing the sheer consistency Bearman brought to the season's opening flyaway races.

"Mexico last year was unbelievable. And the way he's been conducting himself throughout pre-season testing with brand-new regulations, working with the team, simulator and away from the track, has been really good," Komatsu added.

"If you look at those two race weekends [in Melbourne and Shanghai], I would say faultless. Brilliant. And then the attitude, how he works with the engineers, execution... so, yeah, very, very pleased."

Read also:

• Komatsu tells Bearman: ‘No point beating yourself up’

With Haas punching above its weight and Bearman continuing to deliver, the story feels less like a surprise and more like the early chapters of something bigger. If Komatsu is right, the ceiling hasn’t just not been reached – it might not even be visible yet.

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