OLIVER BEARMAN LANDS MULTIYEAR F1 DEAL WITH HAAS
- Oliver Bearman has been a member of Ferrari’s Driver Academy since 2021.
- This year, he made a surprise start for Ferrari at Saudi Arabia in March, where he finished seventh in what is his lone career Formula 1 start to date.
- Bearman will replace Nico Hulkenberg at season's end, as Hulkenberg is moving to Kick Sauber for 2025.
British 19-year-old driver Oliver Bearman has landed a multiyear deal to race for Haas in Formula 1, effective 2025, the team announced Thursday.
Bearman has been a member of Ferrari’s Driver Academy since 2021, and this year took on the role of reserve driver, and made a surprise Formula 1 debut in Saudi Arabia in March. He stood in for the sidelined Carlos Sainz and claimed seventh place.
Bearman ran two practice sessions in 2023 for Haas, and this year his role expanded to include six practice outings at Grands Prix, and was also appointed as a reserve driver.
Bearman has had an indifferent Formula 2 season—he's just 14th in the points standings—amidst his and Prema’s struggles in getting a handle on the recalcitrant F2/24 machine, but Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has repeatedly emphasized that Bearman’s performances and conduct with Haas in Formula 1 were more vital for his 2025 prospects.
Bearman has now sealed one of Haas’ seats for the 2025 campaign and will become the fourth British driver on the grid next year, with the news announced in advance of this weekend’s race at Silverstone.
“It’s an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver his first full-time seat in Formula 1,” Komatsu said. “He’s developed into an incredibly mature driver under the guidance of the 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.”
Haas owner Gene Haas explained the decision to award Bearman a multi-year contract.
“He’s undoubtedly an exciting rookie prospect, not just based on what he showed in Saudi Arabia but also through his time developing his relationship with our team,” Haas said. “I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him deliver for the team next season and beyond.
"This is an exciting time for the team. Oliver’s signing shows we continue to invest in talent—both on and off-track—as we continue to compete at the highest level.”
Haas has not yet announced the identity of Bearman’s teammate for 2025.
Bearman’s ride with Haas has been expected for several months, a situation accelerated in the wake of Nico Hulkenberg’s decision in April to join Sauber in 2025, ahead of its transition into Audi for 2026, freeing up one seat.
But Kevin Magnussen’s future is in doubt, with Hulkenberg having shaded the Dane during their 18 months as teammates.
Magnussen has had a lengthy affiliation with Haas but in Austria sounded sanguine about his Formula 1 chances, pointing to opportunities elsewhere in motorsport, and an indifference to remaining in the midfield.
Elsewhere in the 2025 Driver Market
Alpine outcast Esteban Ocon has been heavily linked with Haas, but he is also understood to be on the shortlist at Sauber, which has long since earmarked Ferrari outcast Carlos Sainz as its priority.
Alpine is understood to have tabled an offer to Sainz, who is also wanted by Williams, with reserve driver Jack Doohan also in the running.
Incumbent Sauber pair Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are not expected to stay, with Bottas linked to a return to Williams if Sainz snubs the team, in place of Logan Sargeant.
Of the other vacancies, Mercedes is biding its time in the long shot that it can wrestle Max Verstappen from Red Bull, with its protégé Andrea Kimi Antonelli waiting in the wings.
RB has Yuki Tsunoda under contract, with the other seat set to be a straight fight between Daniel Ricciardo and reserve Liam Lawson.
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