Haas made Method 1 information earlier this week, saying on Thursday forward of the British Grand Prix that younger Oliver Bearman could be one in all their two drivers for the 2025 F1 season.
That transfer made many marvel if Haas would goal to signal a extra skilled driver for the spot alongside Bearman. Crew Principal Ayao Komatsu admitted throughout Friday’s FIA Press Convention that that is the plan.
“Yeah, in fact, particularly for a crew like us, we can’t have two rookies,” stated Komatsu on Friday when requested if the Bearman promotion would affect Haas’ choice concerning their second seat. “So now that we’ve taken Ollie as a rookie, we’ll attempt to appoint any person who’s received first rate F1 expertise.”
Addressing the choice to advertise Bearman to a full-time F1 seat, Komatsu known as the younger driver a “good match” for Haas.
We’re nonetheless just about a rising crew. We’re a comparatively new crew. After which we’re restarting, let’s say, and bettering our efficiency. And Ollie, clearly, is a really proficient younger driver with a really robust head on his shoulders,” stated Komatsu. “And he’s very calm, however mature, received the pace, and really a lot a crew participant. So the issues how we wish to progress as a crew, that’s what I imply by a really good match.”
The Haas crew boss praised Bearman’s strategy throughout the restricted follow motion he has seen at Haas as a part of his reserve duties with the crew, together with his FP1 debut a 12 months in the past.
“[T]hat’s what was spectacular earlier than once we first put him within the automobile in Mexico, you realize, very first time in a Method 1 automobile, FP1 session. After all, he was excited,” described Komatsu. “However then once more, he understood the target of the crew what this session means to the crew, what we have to obtain. After which, in fact, he’s making an attempt to drive as quick as attainable. However inside that greater image, he understands at all times the context very, very effectively.
“In order that’s what was spectacular earlier than. After which, in fact, you realize, it’s not one thing he wanted to vary at present. After all, he was, I’m certain, very completely happy to drive in entrance of his residence crowd after the announcement. So he was having fun with it. However basically, the strategy was precisely the identical.”
Bearman made a surprising F1 debut earlier this season, ending seventh rather than an ailing Carlos Sainz Jr. on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The younger driver had just one hour of follow time forward of qualifying at Jeddah Corniche Circuit and impressed the whole paddock by advancing to Q2 and qualifying eleventh.
In the principle occasion, Bearman held off Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton down the stretch, regardless of the veteran drivers pursuing him with brisker tires. It was a efficiency that turned heads all through the game and paved the best way to a full-time seat.
Whereas we nonetheless await information on who his teammate is likely to be, we now know a bit extra in regards to the future at Haas, and the way a veteran shall be beside the rookie subsequent season.
Will it’s Kevin Magnussen returning to Haas? Or one of many different drivers in search of a seat, equivalent to Esteban Ocon — who has been linked with Haas in current weeks — or one other driver equivalent to Valtteri Bottas?
We should always know extra quickly.
