Forward of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Haas confirmed that Oliver Bearman will compete for the US-squad on a multi-year contract starting with the 2025 F1 season.
The 19-year-old Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member is at the moment an official reserve driver for the crew whereas contesting the FIA System 2 Championship for Prema Racing. The Briton collected his first win of the 2024 marketing campaign final weekend in Austria within the Dash race so as to add to his tally of 4 victories from a stellar rookie season in 2023.
Bearman, in his extra function as reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari, made a memorable System 1 debut again in March in Saudi Arabia substituting for the sidelined Carlos Sainz – in doing so changing into the third-youngest racer in System 1 historical past. The then 18-year-old from Chelmsford completed in P7 at his debut.
No stranger to MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew – the one American crew competing in System 1, Bearman participated in two FP1 periods for the Kannapolis outfit in 2023, in Mexico and Abu Dhabi respectively, adopted by a full-day within the VF-23 on the end-of-season take a look at in Abu Dhabi.
Introduced as an official reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew in January of this 12 months, Bearman’s work with the crew this season contains six FP1 periods, with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend marking his third look within the VF-24 with Hungary, Mexico and Abu Dhabi to comply with.
Ollie’s on the grid for ’25 🙌🇬🇧
Confirming our first driver for the 2025 season, as Ollie indicators a multi-year contract with the crew ✍️#HaasF1 | @OllieBearman pic.twitter.com/Ub8wTYwES6
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew (@HaasF1Team) July 4, 2024
“It’s an thrilling factor to have the ability to give a younger driver as proficient as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in System 1,” stated Ayao Komatsu, Crew Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 crew.
“He’s developed into an extremely mature driver underneath the steerage of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and the world noticed that for themselves when he was known as in on the final minute to compete on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“Oliver proved he was greater than prepared for the duty, and we’ve seen that for ourselves working him within the Haas automobiles in our FP1 periods over the previous two seasons. We’re trying ahead to additional creating him as a driver and reaping the advantages of his expertise – each inside and outdoors of the automotive.
“Oliver’s an important man and a really welcome addition to the crew when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. Now we all know that relationship goes to be longer-term, it’s a optimistic factor for all involved.”
Gene Haas, Crew Proprietor of MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew commented; “I’m happy we’ve been capable of give Oliver Bearman this chance to drive full-time in System 1 – he’s undoubtedly an thrilling rookie prospect, not simply based mostly on what he confirmed in Saudi Arabia but additionally by way of his time creating his relationship with our crew.
“I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we stay up for seeing him ship for MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew subsequent season and past. That is an thrilling time for the crew. Oliver’s signing exhibits we proceed to spend money on expertise – each on and off-track – as we proceed to compete on the highest stage.”
“It’s laborious to place into phrases simply how a lot this implies to me,” acknowledged Oliver Bearman. “To say out loud that I will probably be a System 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew makes me so immensely proud.
“To be one of many only a few individuals who get to do the factor what they dreamed of as a toddler is one thing really unimaginable. To Gene, Ayao and everybody at Haas, thanks for believing in me and for trusting me to signify your crew. I’ve actually loved working with everybody for the reason that first time we met in Mexico and I can’t wait to take pleasure in this second with them and hopefully many extra sooner or later.
“To Fred, Marco, Jock, Alessandro and everybody on the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, fairly merely, I wouldn’t be right here with out you. Thanks for making ready me since F4 for this unimaginable alternative and know I’ll give it all the things I’ve.”
Bearman was signed to the celebrated Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy in November 2021 – the Brit following the likes of Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher and Robert Shwartzman in receiving outings with MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew by way of the crew’s long-standing relationship with Scuderia Ferrari.
Bearman, previous to graduating into the FIA System 2 Championship in 2023 – the place he completed his rookie season sixth general within the Drivers’ Standings, received the 2021 Italian F4 Championship and 2021 ADAC F4 Championship, and competed within the FIA System 3 Championship in 2022.
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