Oliver Bearman to drive for HAAS F1 team for 2025
Credit: LAT photo
Ferrari Junior Bearman Announced as Haas F1 Driver for 2025
In a thrilling announcement ahead of the home British Grand Prix, Haas has confirmed that Ferrari Academy's young talent, Oliver Bearman, will race for the team in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Bearman, currently serving as Haas' reserve driver, has been lauded for his impressive F1 debut and his stellar performances in lower racing categories.
Bearman’s F1 potential became evident when he stepped in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, finishing an impressive seventh. Reflecting on his new role, Bearman expressed his elation: “It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me. To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team makes me so immensely proud. To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible. To Gene Haas, Ayao Komatsu, and everyone at Haas, thank you for believing in me and for trusting me to represent your team.”
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu praised Bearman's maturity and readiness for the challenge: “It’s an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in Formula 1. He’s developed into an incredibly mature driver under the guidance of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, and the world saw that for themselves when he was called in at the last minute to compete at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Oliver proved he was more than ready for the task, and we’ve seen that for ourselves running him in the Haas cars in our FP1 sessions over the past two seasons. We’re looking forward to further developing him as a driver and reaping the benefits of his talent – both inside and outside of the car.”
Bearman's journey through the ranks has been impressive. After joining Ferrari’s young driver program at the end of 2021, Bearman clinched the Italian F4 championship. He continued to showcase his talent by finishing third in the 2022 F3 championship and securing four wins in the F2 championship, finishing sixth overall. Currently, he stands 14th in the F2 rankings after a recent sprint race win in Austria.
As Bearman gears up for his new role, he will participate in several FP1 sessions for Haas, including outings at Silverstone, Hungary, Mexico, and Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Haas has yet to finalize Bearman’s teammate for 2025. Esteban Ocon, leaving Alpine at the end of this season, is a strong contender, as is Valtteri Bottas. Current driver Kevin Magnussen also remains hopeful for another contract, banking on improved results to secure his spot.
The addition of Bearman marks a significant step for Haas, promising an exciting future as they continue to develop young talent within their ranks.