Oliver Bearman could have entered System 1 as a full-time driver for 2025, however his official rookie standing was successfully erased by his standout substitute performances for Ferrari and Haas in 2024. Now, at simply 19 years previous, he prepares to embark on essentially the most important chapter of his younger profession.
A 12 months in the past, Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman was gearing up for what he anticipated to be an important growth season because the official reserve driver for each the Maranello workforce and Haas. Nonetheless, few might have predicted that his position would increase so dramatically, main to 3 sudden race appearances and in the end securing him a everlasting seat on the 2025 grid.
Haas has introduced Ollie Bearman in to exchange Nico Hülkenberg, who made the swap to Sauber forward of Audi’s full-scale entry into the game. The American workforce has additionally reshuffled its driver lineup by opting to not prolong Kevin Magnussen’s contract, as a substitute pairing Ollie Bearman with the skilled Esteban Ocon.
Ferrari can be intently monitoring Bearman’s efficiency towards his new teammate at Haas, as they proceed to supervise his growth inside their ranks. Though the British driver has been signed to a two-year cope with Haas, he stays a key a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Having joined this system in 2021 after securing titles in each the Italian and ADAC System 4 championships, he now carries the hopes of Maranello’s expertise pipeline.
Sky Sports activities F1 pundit Anthony Davidson has emphasised that Ferrari pays explicit consideration to how Oliver Bearman fares towards his new teammate of their first System 1 season collectively. As a confirmed competitor with important expertise, the 28-year-old Frenchman will function a tricky problem and an necessary benchmark for the younger Briton to measure himself towards.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities, Anthony Davidson famous that Oliver Bearman, identified for his spectacular substitute appearances, would now have the chance to compete in a full System 1 season with Haas. He highlighted Bearman’s exceptional debut in Jeddah, the place he stepped in for the injured Carlos Sainz and scored factors, in addition to his later stint changing Kevin Magnussen at Haas.
Sky Sports activities F1’s knowledgeable identified that the younger driver could be keen to start a structured season, benefiting from winter testing mileage within the automobile he could be racing and with the ability to method race weekends with a clearer technique.
Nonetheless, he additionally emphasised that Oliver Bearman would face a powerful problem from his new teammate, Esteban Ocon, who would function a priceless benchmark for assessing his efficiency. Anthony Davidson added that Ferrari would probably be intently monitoring the British driver’s progress, given his continued place of their younger driver program.
Oliver Bearman Positioned as Potential Successor to Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari if He Shines at Haas
Oliver Bearman’s first full season in System 1 with Haas in 2025 represents a pivotal alternative to show himself to Ferrari. Though Lewis Hamilton has solely simply arrived at Maranello, hypothesis continues to develop that it’s only a matter of time earlier than Bearman secures a seat with the Scuderia. His efficiency over the approaching seasons might decide whether or not he turns into the pure successor when a emptiness arises.
Whereas Ferrari can be intently monitoring Bearman’s progress, they’re unlikely to be the one ones paying consideration. As Sky Sports activities pundit Anthony Davidson has steered, Haas can even be navigating potential tensions inside their new driver lineup. Given Esteban Ocon’s historical past of intra-team rivalries with teammates resembling Sergio Pérez and Pierre Gasly, issues have already emerged that his partnership with the Ferrari junior might result in friction.
In response, Haas workforce principal Ayao Komatsu has made it a precedence to determine clear expectations concerning workforce orders earlier than the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16. How Oliver Bearman handles his battles with Esteban Ocon won’t solely be essential for sustaining stability inside the workforce however might additionally function a key indicator to Ferrari of his potential to handle stress on the highest stage.
In the meantime, Ferrari stays conscious of its long-term driver technique. Whereas over 1,000 followers gathered at Fiorano to witness Lewis Hamilton’s first take a look at in Ferrari crimson this January, the seven-time world champion additionally celebrated his fortieth birthday that very same month. Together with his present contract set to run out after the 2026 System 1 season, Ferrari can be protecting an in depth eye on the British driver’s growth to evaluate whether or not he’s ready to step up when the time comes.
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