Haas leaves door open for Oliver Bearman in F1 after Saudi GP

He wowed the Formula 1 world in two days. Now, what does the future hold for Oliver Bearman? If the question arises very legitimately, both in the paddocks and among the fans, the answer has not yet been given. For now, after his impressive 7th place at the Saudi Arabian GP, the 18-year-old Englishman, member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, will resume its season F2 which he put on hold for a weekend.

In the anteroom the F1, the rookie from Jeddah will have to continue to assert himself and will try to win the title at the end of the season against a field of very promising young people. In addition, eyes will remain on him, F2 and its big sister still sharing twelve dates on their respective calendars, from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi.

This asset could prove useful in the event of good performances or if he had to help out Ferrari again or Haas for a replacement, but also turn against him in the event of poor performance. The fact remains that the F1 paddock will remember its astonishing weekend in Jeddah between now and the end of the season.

Oliver Bearman, ready and envied

And this bodes well for a possible tenure for 2025.  " I think so (he is ready, Editor’s note), assures Jock Clear, director of the Ferrari Driver Academy, the official F1 channel. The fact that Frédéric Vasseur was brave enough to put him in that car this weekend under those circumstances says a lot about what we've already seen from him. I don't want to downplay or diminish the achievement - we're truly over the moon - but we kind of put it there thinking he could do it. »

At the other end of the pit lane, Ayao Komatsu, director of Haas F1, confirms that Ollie Bearman's performance in Jeddah can place the prodigy in the American team's future plans: “Yes, absolutely. Last year, when we took him to the FP1 sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, it was immediately clear that he has what it takes (to be in F1, Editor’s note). He is so impressive that I am very happy that he will participate in six Free Practice sessions this year. I am very happy for him. »

Instead of Magnussen or Hülkenberg?

The decision on Bearman's future in F1 will rest with Ayao Komatsu. If the recent main team may itself want to hire the services of the Englishman, it will also have to deal with the wishes of Ferrari, with whom the American team works closely. It is logical to think that Maranello will do everything possible to give its protégé a chance in 2025.

In the event that the 4 F2021 Italy and Germany champion moves up to F1, Haas will have to part ways with at least one of its two veteran drivers. And Kevin Magnussen could be this one. Beaten last year by Nico Hulkenberg, the Dane no longer shows the pace of his return in 2022 and the money he brings is less important than in the past due to the budget ceiling.

Until any decision is made, Oliver Bearman will have to continue to prove that he deserves a place, if possible by winning F2, and repeat his good performance in Jeddah in the event of another stint in F1. Anyway, “It’s only a matter of time before we see him permanently in the Formula 1 paddock,” abstract an impressed Charles Leclerc. 

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Kelman Marti