For the first time since 2013, Formula 1 will have four permanent British drivers on the grid this year.
Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell have been joined by Haas youngster Oliver Bearman.
Hamilton was still on the grid 12 years ago the last time that happened, but was joined by Jenson Button, Paul di Resta and Max Chilton on that occasion.
Formula 1 has changed an awful lot in that time, with Hamilton set to race for Ferrari for the very first time at this season’s Australian Grand Prix.
Incidentally, the last time there was a quartet of Brits on the grid, the seven-time world champion was also preparing for life at a new team, having just swapped McLaren for Mercedes.
Bearman is now a familiar name with Formula 1 fans after his trio of cameos for Ferrari and Haas last season.
He scored points on debut before nicking a 10th-place finish off Nico Hulkenberg in Baku but struggled in torrential conditions in Sao Paulo.
Bearman sounded terrified on the team radio in Brazil, but at least reached the end of the race, something a few much more experienced drivers could say.
The 19-year-old was speaking at the F1 75 livery launch event in London on Tuesday and addressing the media publicly for the first time in his new role.
He admitted that one decision that FIA have made feels ‘harsh’ to him although it’s completely out of his control.
Oliver Bearman calls FIA decision ‘harsh’ not to classify him as Formula 1 rookie
One of the biggest talking points heading into 2025 is the swathe of new drivers getting ready to join the grid.
However, they each have different levels of experience, with Liam Lawson having already taken part in 11 Grand Prix across two spells with AlphaTauri and RB.
Bearman is next on the list with three starts, while Alpine’s under-pressure new driver Jack Doohan has a single race to his name having taken part in last year’s finale in Abu Dhabi.
This means that technically at the beginning of the season, Doohan will still be considered a rookie, whereas Bearman no longer officially has that tag.
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know
Bearman was asked about the decision from the FIA to no longer classify him as a rookie for the upcoming campaign and said: “I know I’m not officially a rookie, but I think that’s a bit harsh!”
While that’s unlikely to change anyone’s perception of the teenager, it does have practical implications.
Each team has to give up both of their cars to rookies for two FP1 sessions during the season.
It means Alpine, Mercedes (with Andrea Kimi Antonelli), Racing Bulls (Isack Hadjar) and Sauber (Gabriel Bortoleto) can immediately tick some of those sessions off at the beginning of 2025.
Unfortunately for Bearman, he’ll have to step out of the car twice at some point in the year.
Haas hoping to build on strong 2024 performance with a brand-new driver line-up
Very few people expected Haas to perform as well as they did last season, including team principal Ayao Komatsu.
Komatsu played down expectations at Haas after taking over from Guenther Steiner, but Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both impressed throughout the campaign.
It wasn’t the most surprising decision to see two new drivers brought in by Haas over the winter.
READ MORE: All to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari and Toyota ties
Hulkenberg had already signed a deal with Sauber as he looks forward to leading the new Audi works team into F1’s new set of regulations in 2026.
Magnussen’s time in Formula 1 came to a natural conclusion, even if he appeared to up his game thanks to a change in his brakes during the final few races of the campaign.
Bearman and Esteban Ocon have been predicted to clash this year, but if they can stay on each other’s good sides and help the team continue to progress forward, there’s no reason why they can’t lead the midfield race in 2025.
