Bearman scores Haas F1 seat

Britain will have a new Formula 1 driver to cheer for with Ollie Bearman announced as Haas’ new F1 driver for 2025.

Bearman, 19, is a Ferrari Academy youngster and memorably already has a Formula 1 Grand Prix start under his belt.

The boy from Chelmsford has been one of the favourites to join the pinnacle of motorsport after impressing everyone by subbing for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia at short notice.

Bearman put his inexperience aside to qualify 11th and finish seventh ahead of the likes of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. It means the Brit currently sits 14th in the Formula 1 World Championship.

He is the first confirmed driver for Haas, which has lost Nico Hulkenberg, whilst the second seat is far from resolved with Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, plus incumbent Kevin Magnussen all in contention.

Bearman’s rise to Formula 1 has been rapid and he admits it is “truely incredible” to know his dream is coming true.

“It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me,” he said. 

“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 what 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.”

Bearman is well entrenched within the Haas F1 setup having made two Free Practice appearances with the team both last year and this year.

In 2023 his drives came in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, whilst this year he steered the Haas VF-24 at both Imola and Catalunya.

Bearman will be behind the wheel again on home turf at Silverstone tomorrow and will get further opportunities in Hungary, Mexico and Abu Dhabi.

“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,” Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu said.

“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.

“Oliver’s a great guy and a very welcome addition to the team when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. 

“Now we know that relationship is going to be longer-term, it’s a positive thing for all concerned.”

Bearman burst onto the scene in 2021 when he won both the German and Italian Formula 4 titles with Van Amersfoort Racing.

The double dose of success earned him a promotion to the Ferrari Young Driver Academy and he made his Formula 3 debut in 2022, finishing third with eight podiums and the one win.

He has spent the last one and a half seasons in Formula 2 with PREMA, finishing sixth in the standings last year, but with four wins.

Despite his F1 heroics the 2024 F2 season has been a tough one for Bearman and he currently sits 14th, but bounced back with a Sprint Race win last time out at Austria.

Now there will be an even greater spotlight on him as an F1 driver this weekend.

Photo by Simon Galloway / LAT Images

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