Haas made System 1 information earlier this week, asserting on Thursday forward of the British Grand Prix that younger Oliver Bearman can be one among their two drivers for the 2025 F1 season.
That transfer made many surprise if Haas would purpose to signal a extra skilled driver for the spot alongside Bearman. Workforce Principal Ayao Komatsu admitted throughout Friday’s FIA Press Convention that that is the plan.
“Yeah, in fact, particularly for a crew like us, we can’t have two rookies,” mentioned 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 individual who’s bought first rate F1 expertise.”
Addressing the choice to advertise Bearman to a full-time F1 seat, Komatsu referred to as the younger driver a “excellent match” for Haas.
We’re nonetheless just about a rising crew. We’re a comparatively new crew. After which we’re restarting, let’s say, and bettering our efficiency. And Ollie, clearly, is a really gifted younger driver with a really sturdy head on his shoulders,” mentioned Komatsu. “And he’s very calm, however mature, bought the pace, and really a lot a crew participant. So the issues how we need to progress as a crew, that’s what I imply by a really excellent match.”
The Haas crew boss praised Bearman’s method throughout the restricted observe motion he has seen at Haas as a part of his reserve duties with the crew, together with his FP1 debut a yr in the past.
“[T]hat’s what was spectacular earlier than after we first put him within the automotive in Mexico, you realize, very first time in a System 1 automotive, FP1 session. After all, he was excited,” described Komatsu. “However then once more, he understood the target of the crew what this session means to the crew, what we have to obtain. After which, in fact, he’s attempting to drive as quick as attainable. However inside that larger image, he understands all the time the context very, very nicely.
“In order that’s what was spectacular earlier than. After which, in fact, you realize, it’s not one thing he wanted to alter in the present day. After all, he was, I’m certain, very completely satisfied to drive in entrance of his house crowd after the announcement. So he was having fun with it. However essentially, the method was precisely the identical.”
Bearman made a shocking F1 debut earlier this season, ending seventh instead of an ailing Carlos Sainz Jr. on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The younger driver had just one hour of observe 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 best way to a full-time seat.
Whereas we nonetheless await information on who his teammate is perhaps, we now know a bit extra in regards to the future at Haas, and the way a veteran might be beside the rookie subsequent season.
Will or not it’s Kevin Magnussen returning to Haas? Or one of many different drivers searching for a seat, equivalent to Esteban Ocon — who has been linked with Haas in latest weeks — or one other driver equivalent to Valtteri Bottas?
We must always know extra quickly.
