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Haas Aerodynamics Team Leader Luca Metelli has admitted that F2 driver Oliver Bearman’s previous experience driving for Ferrari was beneficial regarding the feedback on “handling” and “aero characteristics”.
Bearman gives Haas an insight into Ferrari
Bearman’s home race in F2 started on a positive note before he made it to the track. The Briton had been announced on a multi-year contract with Haas from 2025.
Ollie's on the grid for '25 ???
Confirming our first driver for the 2025 season, as Ollie signs a multi-year contract with the team ✍️#HaasF1 | @OllieBearman pic.twitter.com/Ub8wTYwES6
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 4, 2024
Despite only managing seventh in the Silverstone Feature Race for his current team PREMA, the 19-year-old was the fastest rookie in Free Practice 1, crossing the line in 14th ahead of his fellow F2 classmates Jack Doohan, Franco Colapinto and Isack Hadjar.
The practice session wasn’t his first. A few weeks prior, the PREMA driver had driven for the American outfit in Barcelona at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The second session at the British GP aimed for Bearman to feel the difference between the car before and after the upgrades the team had brought.
As reported by F1, Metelli explained how it also gave an insight into the handling of the Ferrari.
“To start with, he’s going to run the car with the upgrades,” Metelli said. “So he’s going to give us feedback in terms of how the car feels compared to the last time he drove it.
“Because he also drove the Ferrari car, he gave us also feedback on what is different compared to Ferrari in terms of handling, in terms of aero characteristics.”
The reason Bearman is at Haas
Bearman raced in one Grand Prix, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, in March, following Carlos Sainz’s absence due to an appendicitis operation.
The British driver claimed a seventh-place finish on his debut at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, joining the likes of Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Bourdais, and Timo Glock, who all finished in the same position on their debuts.
However, Metelli alluded to why Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu picked the Chelmsford-born driver to be one of his drivers for 2025. When asked what level Bearman was at, the Haas aerodynamicist said: “Yeah, it’s been pretty impressive.
“[He’s been straight away] very, very fast, just a couple of tenths [away] from the official drivers, so it was pretty impressive and it was spot-on, so that’s why Ayao [Komatsu, Haas Team Principal] decided to give him this chance.”
Bearman will be back in action again for Free Practice 1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he will make his fourth appearance of the six scheduled for him in preparation for his arrival in 2025.
Featured Image: Photo by Michael Potts/LAT Images