Roar! Oliver Bearman has signed for Haas for 2025

Exciting news! Oliver Bearman - who announced his arrival on the F1 stage when he deputised so brilliantly for Carlos Sainz back in March - will drive for Haas in 2025.

The 19-year-old has signed a ‘multi-year contract’ with the team, effectively replacing Nico Hulkenberg whose departure to Sauber/Audi was confirmed in April.

Currently racing in F2 alongside Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli, the British driver picked up three feature race wins in his series debut last year but has struggled with an uncompetitive car so far in 2024.

Alas, his super-sub appearance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix put the spotlight on his talent anyway: with Sainz struck down by appendicitis, the Ferrari Academy driver was drafted into the car just hours before qualifying at one of the most physically demanding tracks on the F1 calendar.

Against all odds, he stuck a car he’d only sampled on the simulator a respectable P11 on the grid and fared even better in the race, climbing up to P7 and finishing ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton in the process. How on earth did he do that?

He’s been the favourite for the empty seat at Haas ever since, although it’s not clear yet who his teammate will be: Kevin Magnussen’s position looks vulnerable and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon is rumoured to be in the mix, with other names being considered too.

“It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me,” said Bearman, who hails from Chelmsford, Essex. “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, Ayao and everyone at Haas, thank you for believing in me and for trusting me to represent your team.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone since the first time we met in Mexico and I can’t wait to enjoy this moment with them and hopefully many more in the future. To Fred, Marco, Jock, Alessandro and everyone at the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, quite simply, I wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for preparing me since F4 for this incredible opportunity and know I will give it everything I have.”

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu added: “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. 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.”

And owner Gene Haas had this to say: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to give Oliver Bearman this opportunity to drive full-time in Formula 1 – 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. I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him deliver for MoneyGram Haas F1 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 is currently seventh in the constructors’ championship and has dragged itself back into the fight for points this season having only picked up 12 in the whole of 2023, finishing stone dead last.

How do you reckon Bearman will get on?