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Oliver Bearman will get his second taste of Formula 1 action at next weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Current Prema Racing Formula 2 driver, Oliver Bearman attending the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy training camp in April 2024. (Image Credit: @OllieBearman on Twitter)PlanetF1 has confirmed that the young Briton is set to drive for Haas in Friday’s first practice session. Haas driver, Kevin Magnussen closes in on a potential race ban following his penalty points from the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
Another chance to impress
Bearman made headlines in March when he raced for Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The then 18-year-old became both the youngest British driver and Ferrari driver to race in F1 when he replaced Sainz in Jeddah.
As well as breaking various records, Bearman’s performance impressed, too. He finished ahead of fellow countrymen Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton to secure a seventh-place finish in the grand prix. His successful F1 debut sparked many rumours regarding his whereabouts for next year. The most prevalent rumour is a potential move to Haas in place of the outgoing Nico Hulkenberg.
A debut to remember ? Still thinking about how impressive @OllieBearman's stand-in weekend was!#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/gbW6uFrJGD
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 10, 2024
After impressing as a junior driver for the American team last year, Haas decided to keep their faith in Bearman for 2024. The current Prema Racing F2 driver is set to complete six practice sessions over the year for the team.
However, with Magnussen only two penalty points away from a race ban, the team gave Bearman the chance to impress again sooner than expected. The 19-year-old will be behind the wheel of the VF-23 for the first practice session in Imola next weekend.
A potential F1 seat in 2025
Bearman showed promise during his F1 appearance. The 19-year-old currently sits in P12 (of 21) in the F1 Driver Standings. However, he has had an underwhelming start to the Formula 2 season. After an impressive debut F2 season in 2023, the Briton sits in P19 (of 22) in this year’s F2 Driver Standings, completing only four of the six races.
Zane Maloney maintains his championship lead, whilst Isack Hadjar moves up to 4th ??
Here's how things stand as leave the land down under ??#AusGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/oFZaMwoF2I
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 24, 2024
Despite the disappointing start to 2024, Haas Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu has clarified that the team’s decision regarding a potential 2025 seat will not solely be based on the driver’s performances in F2. He said:
“It is a combination; he needs to perform in F2, for sure, but when we work with him directly, you understand all the ins and outs, all the environment or the reasoning for certain things happening. So yeah, I’d put probably more weight on what we do with him, how he performs in our environment. But of course he needs to perform in F2. That’s clear.”
Oliver Bearman talking to Ayao Komatsu. (Image Credit: @OllieBearmanBR on Twitter)Despite acknowledging the relationship between Bearman and the team, Komatsu also insisted that no deal has been reached to bring the starlet in for 2025. He said:
“It’s completely open. We’ve got six sessions lined up for him, so we will see the first of that in Imola. We are really looking forward to see how we can develop him and how well we can work together.”
He continued:
“I’ve said it many times before, he is very impressive… I have nothing to complain [about]. It’s a very good package [Haas and Bearman].”
Next weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be round seven of the championship. F1 is also returning to Imola for the first time in two years, after last year’s race was cancelled due to excessive flooding.
Featured Image Credit: @OllieBearman on Twitter