The announcement of Oliver Bearman joining Haas for the next championship officially adds another piece to the 2025 grid. Especially after Nico Hulkenberg’s departure to Sauber-Audi, the possible arrival of the Briton at Haas seemed a concrete possibility, also thanks to the support of the Ferrari Driver Academy, which has guided his path in the junior categories for several years.
The official communication arrived during Oliver Bearman’s home weekend, in front of his fans, where he will also compete in his third free practice session driving the VF-24 as part of a program that includes six outings during the season.
The Briton will split his time between the Formula 2 event and the Formula 1 practice session, which will not only provide the opportunity to gain mileage in a top-tier open-wheel car but also prepare him for the following week. In the coming days, Haas will be engaged in a private testing session to help Pirelli develop the 2025 tires, and Oliver Bearman will be one of the drivers taking part.
According to the English driver, this connection to F1 has been the key aspect of his arrival in the top series next year. More specifically, it was that race in Saudi Arabia with Ferrari, where he replaced the injured Carlos Sainz at the last minute, that set him on the right track to earn the Haas seat in 2025, as he is aware that his F2 season has been far from exciting.
“I believe I did well from the start of the free practice program, and honestly, every time I drove with Haas, because I also participated in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, I think I managed to leave a good impression. I delivered performances I am proud of, which was important for me. I knew that if I kept doing that, I would do enough to get a seat. And I’m happy this is finally a reality,” Oliver Bearman commented in his first interview as an official Haas driver.
“I feel that what I did with an F1 car had a significant impact. Of course, the race in Saudi Arabia, first and foremost, but also my three practice sessions and the tests. For me, these elements carried more weight, and I believe that was also important for the decision-makers. But yes, there’s no denying that my F2 season continues to be a bit challenging. And this always leaves a question mark in the back of your mind.”
The last year and a half in F2 has indeed been a mix of highs and lows. In his debut year in the junior category, the Briton achieved several good results, including four victories, but there were also underwhelming weekends. It’s no coincidence that Oliver Bearman himself suggested at the end of his first F2 season that the target for 2024 would be to find consistency in results and performance, eliminating the mistakes that affected his 2023.
However, the new season has not gone exactly as hoped for various reasons, including errors, bad luck, and an inconsistent Prema, despite the pole at Jeddah and the sprint win in Austria. For this reason, according to the English driver, the sudden debut in Formula 1 with Ferrari in Saudi Arabia played such an important role in his career.
“I believe the performance in Saudi Arabia was the moment when the stars aligned and made my move to F1 possible, because I think without it, it would have been really difficult, especially with how things are going in F2 right now. This helped me a lot, it also gave me confidence in myself, because you never know how it will go until you race against real F1 drivers. It was my chance, and I think I did a good job.”
“I think what I showed in Jeddah demonstrated what I am capable of and that rookies are not so far from more experienced drivers. I think I did a great job. Also, considering how the Formula 2 season is going, it’s hard to ignore that. But I still felt I could do a good job in the free practice sessions, and I am happy because I think it’s one of the main reasons why I am here [in F1] now.”
Oliver Bearman learned that he would be driving for Haas only last Sunday, during the Austrian GP weekend, where he secured his first win of the season in the Saturday sprint race. Undoubtedly, signing the contract was a relief because, although he was aware he was a frontrunner for the seat, the market is always rapidly changing.
“In F1, until you put a signature on a piece of paper, it’s not official. I knew we were working towards it and heading in that direction for some time. But you can never celebrate too early, because F1 is a fast-evolving world, and your value is based on your last race. So I felt relieved when the signing finally came, and I feel that all the sacrifices made have paid off.” – the Ferrari Driver Academy member continued.
Clearly, the focus now is on finishing the F2 season and preparing in the best possible way, both mentally and physically, for his debut year in F1 with Haas. However, the future dreams are already clear, perhaps with that red suit he already wore for a weekend in Saudi Arabia.
“I want to be a successful driver in Formula 1. I want to win races and championships, and with the support and loyalty Ferrari has shown me, it’s only right that I want to do it with Ferrari, which is every boy’s dream. Debuting with them, of course, has strengthened this dream, but at the same time, I am also looking at the short and medium-term future. In the short term, I want to finish Formula 2 and look forward to next year with Haas, and I am really excited.” – Oliver Bearman concluded.
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