Ollie Bearman logical replacement for Nico Hülkenberg at Haas?

With the departure of Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber in 2025, a seat becomes available at Haas. A place that is very expensive today as it is so complicated to join the plateau of the Formula 1 for young pilots. One candidate stands out more than the others to succeed the German pilot: Oliver Bearman. The 18-year-old Briton currently looks like the ideal replacement for next season.

Everyone remembers it. During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (March 7-9), “Ollie” was the star of the weekend replacing Carlos Sainz, last minute package. While he had just taken pole position in Formula 2, the protégé of Ferrari was plunged into the deep end, for his first time behind the wheel of the SF-24.

During qualifying, Oliver Bearman almost found himself in Q3; he finished just 0″064 thousandths behind Lance stroll, which was in 10th position. Before the start of the Grand Prix, Fred Vasseur warned him: “Don’t play hero.” Without wanting to, that's a bit what the young Formula 2 driver will do. With a 7th place finish, a very encouraging result hailed by the entire Formula 1 paddock, starting with the main team of Ferrari.

“It’s certain that he did an exceptional job over the weekend, confided Frédéric Vasseur at the microphone of Canal+, after the race. We must not forget that we called him just before FP2, two hours before. He got in the car; he had never taken a start, never made a pit stop. He discovered all the procedures of the race again today: I was a little worried about the management and all that. But everything went well. And then at the end of the race, when we gave him the gap with Norris, he managed to increase the pace step by step, without taking too many risks in my opinion. He didn't make a single mistake, didn't hit a wall. »

🎙️ “I was really proud of myself today.”

A great first success for Oliver Bearman who finishes the #SaudiArabianGP in 7th position 🔥

What did you think of the young British driver's race?#F1 pic.twitter.com/GwFDQG7gME

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 9, 2024

Driving this year in F1

This Saudi weekend allowed Ollie Bearman to establish himself as a real contender for a place in Formula 1 for years to come. The young driver from the Ferrari Driver Academy will continue his apprenticeship with Haas throughout the season. With the status of reserve driver of the American team, he will indeed participate in six Free Practice sessions, enough to practice a little more, knowing that the obligation for the teams is to have the rookies ride only in two EL1 sessions. Proof that Haas has designs on him.

“He was very, very good. (during the Jeddah Grand Prix, Editor's note), whispered Ayao Komatsu, team principal of Haas. So I'm very happy that he's taking part in six free practice sessions this year with us and I'm very happy for him. He deserves a chance next year, I guess…”

Confirm in Formula 2

Despite all this experience in the premier category of motorsport, Oliver Bearman still has to finish his Formula 2 season, which is currently not at the expected level. The Prema driver has only two points in the standings after three meetings. It should be noted, however, that he did not do the two races in Jeddah (given that he was engaged in F1) even though he had taken pole position. The following weekend, in Melbourne, Bearman was trapped by Jak Crawford's red flag in qualifying and had to start from 16th position, failing to finish. get back into the points during the two races.

So, yes, in the Formula 2 standings, Oliver Bearman is not yet competitive, and it already seems quite complicated for him to go for the title at the end of the season but ultimately this has very little importance From now on ; the Briton has already done most of the work to hope to have a place on the grid in 2025. All he has left is “more than” ensure during the runs he will have with Haas this year and to raise the bar in F2 by seeking poles and victories. The seat of the American team will then naturally extend its arms to him. On the condition that Ferrari still wants to propel him to F1.

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