Haas has confirmed Oliver Bearman will race for the group in 2025 after signing a multi-year deal.
Bearman is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and at the moment a Ferrari and Haas reserve, however has been finishing up a number of FP1 periods to organize him for a future race seat. Bearman additionally impressed with a one-off outing for Ferrari earlier this 12 months, changing the unwell Carlos Sainz in Jeddah and ending seventh after only one observe session, and he has now been formally confirmed that he can be one of many two Haas race drivers subsequent season.
“It’s laborious to place into phrases simply how a lot this implies to me,” Bearman mentioned. “To say out loud that I can be a System 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew 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 toddler is one thing really unimaginable.
“To Gene [Haas], Ayao [Komatsu] and everybody at Haas, thanks for believing in me and for trusting me to symbolize your group. I’ve actually loved working with everybody for the reason that first time we met in Mexico and I can’t wait to take pleasure in this second with them and hopefully many extra sooner or later.
“To Fred [Vasseur], Marco [Matassa], Jock [Clear], Alessandro [Vantini] and everybody on the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, fairly merely, I wouldn’t be right here with out you. Thanks for getting ready me since F4 for this unimaginable alternative and know I’ll give it all the things I’ve.”
Bearman is successfully taking the place of the outgoing Nico Hulkenberg subsequent 12 months, and group principal Komatsu says he has confirmed his potential in F1 equipment already over the previous 12 months.
“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 System 1,” Komatsu mentioned. “He’s developed into an extremely mature driver underneath 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 periods 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 a fantastic man and a really welcome addition to the group 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.”
Crew proprietor Gene Haas says it’s Bearman’s expertise quite than the Ferrari relationship that has led to Haas deciding on the 19-year-old for 2025, with the group having been working with the British driver lengthy earlier than he made his eye-catching efficiency in Jeddah.
“I’m happy we’ve been in a position to give Oliver Bearman this chance to drive full-time in System 1 — he’s undoubtedly an thrilling rookie prospect, not simply based mostly on what he confirmed in Saudi Arabia but additionally by way of his time creating his relationship with our group,” Haas mentioned.
“I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look ahead to seeing him ship for MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew subsequent season and past. That is an thrilling time for the group. Oliver’s signing exhibits we proceed to put money into expertise — each on and off-track — as we proceed to compete on the highest degree.”
