F1 | What will Oliver Bearman's future hold? Fred Vasseur shares his thoughts

Oliver Bearman, one of the top talents in the Ferrari Driver Academy, appears to have the potential to secure a place in Formula 1 in the not-so-distant future. The young English driver took his very first drive in a Ferrari single-seater at Fiorano yesterday as part of his preparation for his debut in the Mexican GP FP1 with Haas. Frédéric Vasseur, the current Team Principal of Ferrari, also discussed Oliver Bearman’s future.

“We need to prepare in advance, and that’s why we’re giving him two FP1 sessions with Haas this season,” commented Fred Vasseur. “There will probably be many more in 2024, as we’re preparing him for the future. So far, he’s doing an excellent job, but we know the road ahead is long. Transitioning to Formula 1 is more complicated because we no longer have tests, and there are increasingly more sprint events with only one free practice session. We only have three tests during the winter, which makes adapting to Formula 1 quite challenging. Not all rookies manage to do it.” – the French manager pointed out.

The test carried out at the Fiorano circuit aboard the SF-21 yesterday seemed very positive for Oliver Bearman, who expressed great excitement. “First of all, I think leaving the garage in a car like that and on such a circuit was quite an emotional moment,” stated the Ferrari Academy driver. “It’s a childhood dream come true to drive an F1. I was really happy. But in the first corner, you immediately get to work and understand what this car needs. I was truly shocked by the speed, and the acceleration is also incredibly surprising.” – the Ferrari junior explained.

This year, we will see Oliver Bearman in action in two free practice sessions with Haas, particularly at the Mexican GP and the Abu Dhabi GP.

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