MoneyGram Haas F1 Group has signed Nice Britain’s Oliver Bearman to compete for the US squad on a multi-year contract starting with the 2025 FIA Formulation 1 World Championship. The 19-year-old Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member is at present an official reserve driver for the group whereas contesting the FIA Formulation 2 Championship for Prema Racing – Bearman 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.
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Bearman, in his extra position as reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari, made a memorable Formulation 1 debut again in March in Saudi Arabia, substituting for the sidelined Carlos Sainz – in doing so, turning into the third-youngest racer in Formulation 1 historical past. His mature efficiency from the then 18-year-old from Chelmsford noticed Bearman categorized seventh and firmly within the factors on his one-off race look behind the wheel of the SF-24, a promising signal of his potential within the sport.
No stranger to MoneyGram Haas F1 Group – the one American group competing in Formulation 1, Bearman participated in two FP1 classes 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 check in Abu Dhabi. Introduced as an official reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Group in January of this 12 months, Bearman’s work with the group this season consists of six FP1 classes, 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.
Ayao Komatsu, Group Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Group, stated: “It’s an thrilling factor to provide a younger driver as gifted as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in Formulation 1. He’s developed into an extremely mature driver underneath the steerage of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. 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 operating him within the Haas vehicles in our FP1 classes 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 out of doors of the automobile. Oliver’s an ideal man and a welcome addition to the group when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. We all know the connection can be longer-term, and it’s optimistic for all involved.”
Gene Haas, Group Proprietor of MoneyGram Haas F1 Group, commented: “I’m happy we’ve been capable of give Oliver Bearman this chance to drive full-time in Formulation 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 group. I’m excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we sit up for seeing him ship for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Group subsequent season and past. That is an thrilling time for the group. Oliver’s signing exhibits we proceed to put money into expertise – each on and off-track – as we compete on the highest degree.”
Oliver Bearman said: “It’s exhausting to say simply how a lot this implies to me. To say out loud that I can be a Formulation 1 driver for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Group makes me immensely proud. Being one of many few individuals who get to do what they dreamed of as a baby is really unbelievable. To Gene, Ayao and everybody at Haas, thanks for believing in me and trusting me to signify your group. I’ve loved working with everybody because the first time we met in Mexico, and I can’t wait to get pleasure from 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 getting ready me since F4 for this unbelievable alternative, and know I’ll give it the whole lot 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 Group by way of the group’s long-standing relationship with Scuderia Ferrari.
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Bearman, earlier than graduating into the FIA Formulation 2 Championship in 2023 – the place he completed his rookie season sixth total within the Drivers’ Standings, gained the 2021 Italian F4 Championship and 2021 ADAC F4 Championship, and competed within the FIA Formulation 3 Championship in 2022.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Group sits seventh total within the Constructors’ Championship because the British Grand Prix, Spherical 12 of the 2024 FIA Formulation 1 World Championship, is hosted at Silverstone Worldwide Circuit this weekend, Friday 5 – Sunday 7 July.
