Bearman dismisses speculation amid difficulties at Ferrari.

      "I'm in F1 and you have to have confidence in yourself."

      Oliver Bearman states he is "confident in himself" amidst swirling rumors following a turbulent week for Ferrari—speculation about Lewis Hamilton's potential early departure, Charles Leclerc's connection to Aston Martin, and suggestions that the Haas rookie could be rapidly brought into the Ferrari fold.

      When asked in Qatar if he would be "prepared" should Ferrari suddenly require him, Bearman was composed yet assertive. "Well, you know, I’m in F1 and you have to believe in yourself," he remarked. "So yes, I think I’m prepared, but I need to keep proving that. It’s not just about having five or six good races and expecting everything to change."

      The rumor mill has been active after Ferrari chairman John Elkann publicly advised Hamilton to "talk less," followed by Italian media reports that the team had abandoned Hamilton’s "F44" road car project, and then Hamilton's own comments in Vegas about "not looking forward" to 2026.

      In Qatar, the seven-time world champion reflected on his earlier statements. "I’d be surprised if the other drivers were looking forward to next year at the season's end," he stated. "You tend to look forward to family and other things. That was just a moment of frustration, especially when the races haven't gone well."

      He affirmed he has no regrets about joining Ferrari. "I don’t regret my decision. I understand that it takes time to build and develop within an organization, and I anticipated that."

      Hamilton rarely spoke during the FIA press conference—a pattern not out of character for him—but kept emphasizing he is "excited" for 2026 despite the current turmoil.

      Leclerc, on the other hand, completely dismissed the Aston Martin rumors. "When you’re facing tough times, there tend to be even more rumors," he said to Sky Italia in Qatar. "But I’ve always maintained my love for this team. The key is that these rumors don’t disrupt our work—and that hasn’t happened."

      He emphasized that Ferrari remains cohesive following a disappointing conclusion to the season. "We’re very united and highly motivated. I’ve been saying for a while we want to accomplish something remarkable, and we haven’t achieved it yet, but the team is not affected by external circumstances."

      Leclerc also acknowledged that Ferrari’s performance decline in the latter part of the season is relatively understandable. "Our final segment of the season has essentially been sacrificed for 2026," he admitted. "We know that small details will be crucial. Time will reveal if we made the right choices."