Jolyon Palmer heaps praise onto seven-point F1 driver who fans should ‘watch out’ for in 2025

Heading into the 2024 Formula 1 season, there were no rookies on the grid. It marked the first time in F1 history that the teams’ driver line-ups were the same as the end of the previous year.

Many people were left furious with this fact, particularly Eddie Jordan who scolded the teams for their scandalous decisions as several talents in Formula 2 were snubbed of an opportunity to race in the pinnacle of motorsport.

But come the end of the season, four drivers had been given their chance across the year to prove themselves. These opportunities were afforded to the rookies for many reasons, ranging from illnesses to driver sackings.

The first rookie to get his chance in 2024 was Oliver Bearman – and he could not have asked for a better F1 debut. The Brit was called up at the last minute to replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after the Spaniard came down with appendicitis.

Having taken pole in F2 the day before, Bearman stepped into the SF-24 – which he had never driven before – and qualified an impressive 11th and finished seventh in the race ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.

Jolyon Palmer tells fans to ‘watch out’ for Oliver Bearman in 2025 after his impressive performances this season

Jock Clear said Bearman’s debut was better than Jacques Villeneuve’s as he was awarded Driver of the Day for his efforts in Jeddah. The 19-year-old would get two more appearances in 2024 with Haas in place of Kevin Magnussen.

Bearman replaced the Dane in Baku after the latter was suspended for accumulating 12 penalty points on his superlicense. Outqualifying experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg, the Brit beat the German in the race to finish 10th, scoring another point.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know

The teenager got back into the VF-24 in Sao Paulo after Magnussen came down ill over the weekend. Bearman suffered a more challenging weekend as he had several spins and mistakes before bringing the car home 12th in the torrential rain – which he had never an F1 car in before.

Bearman finished 18th in the championship with seven points – the most out of the four rookie drivers over Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan. Writing in his column on the F1 website, Jolyon Palmer praised the Brit for his 2024 efforts as he stressed fans should ‘watch out’ for him in 2025.

“There were no rookies on the grid at the start of the year, but that feels a long time ago now, as plenty got their chance through the year,” Palmer wrote. “It’s another hotly contested category with great drives from Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto, but I’ve chosen Oliver Bearman as my top stand in performer, even though he only did three Grands Prix this year.

“Jumping into a Ferrari in a circuit as tough as Jeddah was a massive task, especially with no Friday practice under his belt, but he ended it with a haul of points and Driver of the Day award for holding off a charging Norris and Hamilton.

“Then his Baku performance for Haas I think was even better, out-qualifying and out-racing Nico Hulkenberg on his debut with the team and nabbing another point.

“Even in Brazil Bearman out paced Hulk in both qualifying sessions and had an advantage over his more experienced team mate, someone I rate highly. Watch out in 2025 as he begins a full season with Haas.”

How will Oliver Bearman fare in 2025 with Haas?

Heading into 2025, Bearman has already proven his ability in F1 and comes into the season as one of the sport’s most exciting talents. Eddie Jordan says Bearman was more impressive than Colapinto in 2024 as he was blown away by his debut with Ferrari.

Bearman has signed a deal with Haas until at least 2026 as he partners Esteban Ocon next season. The Brit is also set to stay on as a Ferrari reserve driver whilst racing full-time with the American outfit.

Bearman and Ocon will be keen to pick up where Magnussen and Hulkenberg left off in 2024 as the team made significant improvements under the leadership of Ayao Komatsu. While they missed out on sixth in the Constructors’ Championship to Alpine, Haas had a package that was capable of reaching Q3 consistently and could regularly fight for points.

What Bearman did in his three Grand Prix this season, with little time to prepare for each of them, was nothing short of impressive. With a full pre-season under his belt, he will be certainly one to look out for in 2025.