Haas will have two years to prepare Bearman for the highest level: "If Ferrari wants him for 2027, we will have done a good job"

Haas gets a makeover for the 2025 season. New ambitions, new team of engineers – with the promotion of Laura Müller, the first woman to become a racing engineer in F1 – and above all, new drivers. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman replace Nico Hulkenberg et Kevin Magnussen, bringing a breath of fresh air and youth to the American team. An interesting, unique duo with definite potential. For the Briton, after three convincing "stories" in 2024 (seven points in three Grands Prix), his logical tenure is proof of the confidence placed in him by Haas and by Classic Ferrari for sale, of which he is a member of the academy.

"If Ollie does a good job, Ferrari won't be able to ignore him"

For Ayao Komatsu, having the young driver, who is only 19, is a chance, but also an opportunity to progress together. The Japanese manager knows that if Oliver Bearman does a good job with the American team over the next two seasons, it would be logical for the Scuderia to call him back to occupy one of its single-seaters in the future. Charles Leclerc et Lewis Hamilton Being under contract in 2025 and 2026, Ferrari should not call on Oliver Bearman before 2027… which Haas wants to take advantage of. "We hired him for two years; two plus one [an option for an additional year], said the Haas Team Principal last Monday during the presentation of his team organized in Banbury. But if we do a good job and if Ollie does a good job, Ferrari won't be able to ignore him."

"The fact that we have two years secured with Ollie, provided nothing happens with Lewis [Hamilton] and Charles [Leclerc] at Ferrari, is great, he added. If we work together, if we make improvements together so that at the end of 2026 Ferrari insists on having Ollie in their car, that must be a compliment to us. These two years that we have with Ollie, we are determined to make them work and if we get to the point where Ferrari is happy enough to have Ollie back for the 2027 season, we will have done a good job.

Haas and the management of the Ocon – Bearman duo

In 2025, Oliver Bearman will be pitted against a driver who is used to tough teammates and internal battles: Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman opens a new chapter in his career with Haas, after five seasons at enstone with Renault / Alpine. The Norman will logically be the leader of the American team this season: however, Ayao Komatsu expects the two drivers to be relatively close in terms of performance. Given the precedents experienced by the Evreux driver – with Sergio Pérez at Force India, then with Fernando Alonso et Pierre Gasly in Alpine – the Japanese leader will want to clarify things before the start of the season between his two new drivers.

"The rules of engagement must be perfectly clear, from day one, emphasizes Ayao Komatsu. So they will be clarified before the first race. I don't expect there to be any contact between teammates, nor any retirements because of this. But it's a good thing, they have to race each other."

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