Oliver Bearman might have entered Method 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 Now, at simply 19 years outdated, he prepares to embark on probably the most important chapter of his younger profession.
A yr in the past, Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman was gearing up for what he anticipated to be a vital improvement season because the official reserve driver for each the Maranello group and Haas. Nonetheless, few may have predicted that his function would develop so dramatically, main to a few sudden race appearances and finally securing him a everlasting seat on the 2025 grid.
Haas has introduced Ollie Bearman in to interchange Nico Hülkenberg, who made the change to Sauber forward of Audi’s full-scale entry into the game. The American group has additionally reshuffled its driver lineup by opting to not prolong Kevin Magnussen’s contract, as an alternative pairing Ollie Bearman with the skilled Esteban Ocon.
Ferrari will likely be intently monitoring Bearman’s efficiency in opposition to his new teammate at Haas, as they proceed to supervise his improvement 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 Method 4 championships, he now carries the hopes of Maranello’s expertise pipeline.
Sky Sports activities F1 pundit Anthony Davidson has emphasised that Ferrari can pay specific consideration to how Oliver Bearman fares in opposition to his new teammate of their first Method 1 season collectively. As a confirmed competitor with important expertise, the 28-year-old Frenchman will function a tricky problem and an vital benchmark for the younger Briton to measure himself in opposition to.
Talking to Sky Sports activities, Anthony Davidson famous that Oliver Bearman, recognized for his spectacular substitute appearances, would now have the chance to compete in a full Method 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 skilled identified that the younger driver can be keen to start a structured season, benefiting from winter testing mileage within the automotive he can be racing and having the ability to method race weekends with a clearer technique.
Nonetheless, he additionally emphasised that Oliver Bearman would face a robust problem from his new teammate, Esteban Ocon, who would function a beneficial benchmark for assessing his efficiency. Anthony Davidson added that Ferrari would seemingly 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 Method 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 may decide whether or not he turns into the pure successor when a emptiness arises.
Whereas Ferrari will likely be intently monitoring Bearman’s progress, they’re unlikely to be the one ones paying consideration. As Sky Sports activities pundit Anthony Davidson has recommended, Haas can even be navigating potential tensions inside their new driver lineup. Given Esteban Ocon’s historical past of intra-team rivalries with teammates similar to Sergio Pérez and Pierre Gasly, issues have already emerged that his partnership with the Ferrari junior may result in friction.
In response, Haas group principal Ayao Komatsu has made it a precedence to ascertain clear expectations relating to group 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 group however may additionally function a key indicator to Ferrari of his capability to handle stress on the highest degree.
In the meantime, Ferrari stays aware of its long-term driver technique. Whereas over 1,000 followers gathered at Fiorano to witness Lewis Hamilton’s first check in Ferrari pink this January, the seven-time world champion additionally celebrated his fortieth birthday that very same month. Along with his present contract set to run out after the 2026 Method 1 season, Ferrari will likely be holding a detailed eye on the British driver’s improvement to evaluate whether or not he’s ready to step up when the time comes.
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