Mar.10 (GMM) As Oliver Bearman scored factors and the official ‘driver of the day’ plaudits on Saturday, rumours have been additionally starting to swirl about his full-time future in Formulation 1.
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur admits he was “not optimistic” concerning the 18-year-old Briton’s probabilities as Bearman was pulled out of the F2 paddock in Jeddah to substitute on the final minute for the ailing Carlos Sainz.
“All people has seen how gifted he’s now and I assume it’s only a matter of time earlier than he comes right here in Formulation 1,” stated teammate Charles Leclerc.
Nonetheless, not a single full-time rookie is on the F1 grid this yr – a primary in all the fashionable historical past of the world championship. However that will change for 2025.
Bearman is already the official reserve at Ferrari-powered Haas this yr – the small American group that has a key technical facility on the grounds of Ferrari’s Maranello HQ.
He’s scheduled to take over a Haas cockpit on six events for preliminary follow this season, so coupled together with his spectacular debut in Jeddah, a full-time drive for 2025 seems probably.
Simply days in the past, Haas boss Ayao Komatsu characterised Kevin Magnussen’s qualifying deficit to Nico Hulkenberg in Bahrain lately as “not acceptable”.
“The primary conclusion is normally the best, and that’s that he (Bearman) will drive for Haas subsequent yr,” former F1 driver and present Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers instructed NOS.
“Haas additionally wants a driver like him. I feel Bearman can do very effectively there, and their headquarters are additionally in Maranello, which isn’t any coincidence,” he added.
One other former F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, says he’s relieved that Bearman proved that teenaged rookies can deal with the massive step as much as F1 – excellent news additionally for 2025 Mercedes candidate Kimi Antonelli, who’s Bearman’s 17-year-old Formulation 2 teammate.
“It was crucial that somebody like him was thrown within the deep finish like that. Each group was nearly afraid to tackle new drivers,” Schumacher instructed Sky Deutschland.
“Hopefully it can result in new drivers coming in once more. I see him in Formulation 1 subsequent yr.”
Danish racing driver Jason Watt agrees that Bearman’s efficiency is dangerous information for 31-year-old Magnussen.
“In my e-book, it’s written in big letters that one of many two present Haas drivers is not going to be provided an extension for 2025,” he instructed Ekstra Bladet newspaper.
Even Bearman doesn’t deny that Haas could possibly be his huge alternative subsequent yr.
“I’ve numerous free follow with them this yr,” he stated. “I sit up for constructing a great relationship there and hopefully a door will open. That will be improbable,” he stated.
Ferrari group boss Vasseur agreed: “He nonetheless has the alternatives to check the automotive and participate within the first practices, and we’ll take a look at that rigorously.
“The main target for him is on the F2 season,” the Frenchman confirmed, earlier than laughing: “And I’ll remember that he was on pole right here (at Jeddah) and I ruined his F2 weekend for him.”
Frits van Amersfoort, who ran Bearman in Formulation 4, instructed NOS on Saturday: “Racing is in each fibre of Ollie’s physique. You possibly can scent it on him.
“Identical to Max (Verstappen), he’s a pure expertise. Guys like them know drive quick in probably the most pure approach.”
