Oliver Bearman joins the Haas F1 Team, becoming a full-time Formula One driver from 2025 and beyond, the American outfit announced on Thursday ahead of the British Grand Prix.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has signed their first driver for the 2025 Formula One season, Briton Oliver Bearman on a multi-year agreement.
The 19-year-old racer spoke about his graduation to the pinnacle of motorsport, outlining: “It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me. To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for the Haas F1 Team makes me 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. To Gene [Haas], Ayao [Komatsu], and everyone at Haas, thank you for believing in me and trusting me to represent your team.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone since the first time we met in Mexico, and I can’t wait to enjoy this moment with them and hopefully many more in the future.”
Bearman, who joined the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) late in 2021, will drive in the FP1 session at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, making his third outing this year for Haas.
Previously, he made free practice outings at the Emilia Romagna and Spanish Grands Prix, set to complete the 2024 season with appearances at the wheel of the VF-24 in Hungary, Mexico, and Abu Dhabi.
Team Owner Gene Haas commented on Bearman’s signing: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to give Oliver Bearman this opportunity to drive full-time in Formula 1 - he is undoubtedly an exciting rookie prospect, not just based on what he showed in Saudi Arabia but also through his time developing his relationship with our team.”
Early in March, when the 2021 Italian F4 Champion was preparing for the second round of the Formula 2 championship in Jeddah, he received a late call-up from Scuderia Ferrari to step in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP, who has been diagnosed with appendicitis.
And the young British driver did not disappoint, crossing the finish line in an impressive seventh place on debut.
“I am personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him deliver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team next season and beyond,” Haas added.
“This is an exciting time for the team. Oliver’s signing shows we continue to invest in talent - both on and off-track - as we continue to compete at the highest level.”
In 2023, he joined Prema to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, delivering a remarkable campaign, scoring four race wins and five podiums.
The Azerbaijan round became his season highlight, a perfect weekend in which he started from pole position to go the distance, winning his maiden Sprint. The next day, he would also emerge victorious in the Feature Race.
He remained with Prema in 2024, combining his role as an official reserve driver for Ferrari and Haas in Formula One.
Last weekend, he achieved his maiden F2 Sprint Race victory this season in Austria.
Haas Team Principal Komatsu stressed: “It is an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in Formula 1. 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.”
“Oliver’s a great guy and a very welcome addition to the team when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. Now, we know that relationship is going to be longer-term. It’s a positive thing for all concerned.”
