Yet another spot on the Formulation 1 grid has been solidified for the 2025 season.
And the information ensures that there shall be at the least one rookie on the grid subsequent 12 months.
As was extensively anticipated, Haas introduced that Oliver Bearman, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and an F1 tremendous sub this season for Ferrari, shall be driving for the staff full-time subsequent season. In line with the staff it’s a “multi-year” deal.
Haas Workforce Principal Ayao Komatsu praised the younger driver within the staff’s announcement.
“It’s an thrilling factor to have the ability to give a younger driver as gifted as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in Formulation 1,” stated Komatsu. “He’s developed into an extremely mature driver beneath the steerage of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and the world noticed that for themselves when he was referred to as in on the final minute to compete on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“Oliver proved he was greater than prepared for the duty, and we’ve seen that for ourselves working him within the Haas automobiles in our FP1 classes over the previous two seasons. We’re trying ahead to additional creating him as a driver and reaping the advantages of his expertise – each inside and outdoors of the automobile. Oliver’s an excellent man and a really welcome addition to the staff when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. Now we all know that relationship goes to be longer-term, it’s a optimistic factor for all involved.”
Haas proprietor Gene Haas praised Bearman as an “thrilling rookie prospect” when asserting the information.
“I’m happy we’ve been capable of give Oliver Bearman this chance to drive full-time in Formulation 1 – he’s undoubtedly an thrilling rookie prospect, not simply based mostly on what he confirmed in Saudi Arabia but additionally via his time creating his relationship with our staff,” stated Haas. “I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we stay up for seeing him ship for MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce subsequent season and past. That is an thrilling time for the staff. Oliver’s signing exhibits we proceed to put money into expertise – each on and off-track – as we proceed to compete on the highest stage.”
The younger driver acknowledged that he was “proud” to be reaching this dream.
“It’s arduous to place into phrases simply how a lot this implies to me,” stated Bearman. “To say out loud that I shall be a Formulation 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce makes me so immensely proud. To be one of many only a few individuals who get to do the factor what they dreamed of as a baby is one thing actually unbelievable.”
Along with Bearman’s present reserve duties for Ferrari and Haas, Bearman drives for Prema in F2. He at present sits 14th within the F2 Drivers’ Championship standings and secured his first win of the season within the F2 Dash Race on the Austrian Grand Prix.
Nevertheless, his unbelievable efficiency standing in for Carlos Sainz Jr. on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix speaks to his potential on the subsequent stage. When Sainz was dominated out attributable to an emergency appendectomy Bearman slid into Sainz’s SF-24 and certified eleventh, after only one hour of observe within the automobile. In his F1 debut, he completed up in seventh, warding off each Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton within the closing laps — with each veteran drivers on more energizing tires — to safe six hard-earned factors.
That debut earned him respect across the paddock, with Hamilton praising the younger driver. “To have to leap in with out doing [much] observe, like he has, it was mega, I’m actually impressed,” stated Hamilton after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “It simply exhibits what expertise he’s. I understand how powerful it was however he bought confidence on it right away.”
That end has Bearman nonetheless in P14 within the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings, forward of each Alpine drivers in addition to Kevin Magnussen.
And that end may put him alongside Magnussen subsequent season.
