Oliver Bearman Joins Haas F1 Team as Latest F2 Graduate

British driver Oliver Bearman will be a Formula 1 driver in 2025 after the Haas F1 Team announced the 18-year-old would join them next year.

Bearman has already made his F1 debut, with Ferrari, earlier this year at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he filled in for the unwell Carlos Sainz.

His F1 graduation was confirmed ahead of his home race weekend at the British Grand Prix.

The teenager replaces the departing Nico Hulkenberg, who is joining Sauber ahead the Swiss-team becoming Audi.

Danish driver Kevin Magnussen is the teams other driver, but it’s unclear whether the former McLaren driver will be retained.

BREAKING: Ollie Bearman graduates to @F1 with Haas! ?
Congrats, Ollie! ??#F2 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/bpd6ddvbeE
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) July 4, 2024

Bearman said it was difficult to put into words how much the achievement means to him.

He said: “To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team makes me so immensely proud.

“To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible”

Haas Team Principal, Ayo Komatsu, said: “It’s an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver his first full-time seat in Formula 1,”

Proud to have followed every step towards this next adventure ?@OllieBearman ??? https://t.co/rwyjXzmFEn
— PREMA (@PREMA_Team) July 4, 2024

Bearman has impressed in F2, winning four races in his rookie year in 2023 – including a double victory around the streets of Baku, having taken pole position with a wonky steering wheel.

He got his first taste of F1 action during first practice for the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix in the Haas, and has made further appearances for the American team since.

Komatsu added: “He’s developed into an incredibly mature driver under the guidance of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and the world saw that for themselves when he was called in at the last minute to compete at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“Oliver proved he was more than ready for the task, and we’ve seen that for ourselves running him in the Haas cars in our FP1 sessions over the past two seasons.

“We’re looking forward to further developing him as a driver and reaping the benefits of his talent – both inside and outside of the car. ”

Image: Haas F1 Team

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