Haas made Formula 1 information earlier this week, saying on Thursday forward of the British Grand Prix that younger Oliver Bearman could be one among their two drivers for the 2025 F1 season.
That transfer made many surprise if Haas would intention to signal a extra skilled driver for the spot alongside Bearman. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu admitted throughout Friday’s FIA Press Conference that that is the plan.
“Yeah, in fact, particularly for a group like us, we can’t have two rookies,” said Komatsu on Friday when requested if the Bearman promotion would affect Haas’ determination concerning their second seat. “So now that we’ve taken Ollie as a rookie, we’ll attempt to appoint any person who’s acquired first rate F1 expertise.”
Addressing the choice to advertise Bearman to a full-time F1 seat, Komatsu referred to as the younger driver a “good match” for Haas.
We are nonetheless just about a rising group. We are a comparatively new group. And then we’re restarting, let’s say, and bettering our efficiency. And Ollie, clearly, is a really proficient younger driver with a really robust head on his shoulders,” stated Komatsu. “And he’s very calm, however mature, acquired the pace, and really a lot a group participant. So the issues how we wish to progress as a group, that’s what I imply by a really good match.”
The Haas group boss praised Bearman’s strategy through the restricted follow motion he has seen at Haas as a part of his reserve duties with the group, together with his FP1 debut a 12 months in the past.
“[T]hat’s what was spectacular earlier than after we first put him within the automotive in Mexico, , very first time in a Formula 1 automotive, FP1 session. Of course, he was excited,” described Komatsu. “But then once more, he understood the target of the group what this session means to the group, what we have to obtain. And then, in fact, he’s attempting to drive as quick as potential. But inside that larger image, he understands all the time the context very, very effectively.
“So that’s what was spectacular earlier than. And then, in fact, , it’s not one thing he wanted to alter as we speak. Of course, he was, I’m certain, very completely happy to drive in entrance of his house crowd after the announcement. So he was having fun with it. But essentially, the strategy was precisely the identical.”
Bearman made a surprising F1 debut earlier this season, ending seventh rather than an ailing Carlos Sainz Jr. on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The younger driver had just one hour of follow time forward of qualifying at Jeddah Corniche Circuit and impressed your entire paddock by advancing to Q2 and qualifying eleventh.
In the primary occasion, Bearman held off Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton down the stretch, regardless of the veteran drivers pursuing him with brisker tires. It was a efficiency that turned heads all through the game and paved the way in which to a full-time seat.
While we nonetheless await information on who his teammate may be, we now know a bit extra in regards to the future at Haas, and the way a veteran will probably be beside the rookie subsequent season.
Will or not it’s Kevin Magnussen returning to Haas? Or one of many different drivers on the lookout for a seat, resembling Esteban Ocon — who has been linked with Haas in current weeks — or one other driver resembling Valtteri Bottas?
We ought to know extra quickly.
