Oliver Bearman lost his official rookie status with three superb cameo performances with Ferrari and Haas in 2024, and he now steps into F1 as a full-time driver in 2025.
The 19-year-old was preparing to embark on a big year in his fledgling career 12 months ago as both Ferrari plus Haas named Bearman as their official Formula 1 reserve driver. Little did the Briton know then that it would lead to three stand-in drives plus a seat on the 2025 grid.
Bearman has replaced Nico Hulkenberg at Haas, following the German’s defection to Sauber as a factory Audi driver. The American squad also partnered the Havering-born, Chelmsford-raised talent with Esteban Ocon after opting against giving Kevin Magnussen a new contract.
Ferrari will be ‘keeping a close eye on’ how Oliver Bearman handles Esteban Ocon at Haas
Ferrari have effectively loaned Bearman to Haas with a two-year contract, with the Scuderia retaining the Briton as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. The teenager, who has picked the No87, joined the Scuderia’s programme in 2021 after sealing an Italian and ADAC F4 double.
So, Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson feels Ferrari will now intently track how Bearman performs next to a known quantity in Ocon in their first year as teammates at Haas. The 28-year-old Frenchman will give Bearman a ‘tough’ challenge and a ‘good benchmark’ to utilise.
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Davidson told Sky Sports: “Ollie Bearman, the super-sub, gets his chance to embark on a full season with Haas this year after superbly filling in for the injured Sainz in Jeddah – scoring points on his debut – and then we saw him on the grid again replacing Magnussen at Haas.
“He’ll be relishing the chance to start a more structured season with some winter testing miles in the car that he’ll be racing, and approaching race weekends with a clearer plan.
“He has a tough competitor alongside him, though, in Esteban Ocon and thus gives us a good benchmark of his performances this year, which I’m sure Ferrari will be keeping a close eye on, too, as he remains part of their young driver programme.”
Oliver Bearman is in line to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari if he impresses with Haas
Stepping into F1 as a full-time driver in 2025 for Haas presents Bearman with a big chance to impress Ferrari in case a seat becomes available in Maranello soon despite the recent arrival of Lewis Hamilton. It is already noted that it is a matter of time before Bearman joins Ferrari.
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Ferrari may not be the only one paying attention to how Bearman performs beside Ocon as teammates for Haas in 2025, like Davidson suggests, as well. There are already fears at Haas that Bearman and Ocon will clash, given the latter’s past with Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly.
So, team principal Ayao Komatsu will make Haas’ position on team orders with Bearman and Ocon ‘totally clear’ ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16. How he handles fighting Ocon may go a long way to show Ferrari that Bearman can step up one day.
While more than 1,000 fans watched Hamilton’s first Ferrari test at Fiorano this January, the seven-time F1 champion also turned 40 in January. So, the Scuderia will be keeping tabs on Bearman’s work in case he can step up when Hamilton’s Ferrari contract expires after 2026.
