Haas has stated that there are no guarantees that Oliver Bearman will secure a full-time Formula 1 seat with the team in 2025, despite his impressive performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Bearman made his F1 debut with Ferrari as a replacement for Carlos Sainz, who was unable to race due to appendicitis. Despite limited practice time, Bearman adapted well to the challenging Jeddah track and finished seventh in the race, ahead of both Mercedes and Lando Norris. Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu described Bearman’s performance as “amazing” and acknowledged the expectations surrounding the young driver, who is also serving as Haas’ reserve driver. However, Komatsu praised the current lineup of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg and emphasized that their performance on the day warranted their positions for the following year.
Bearman was chosen by Haas to fulfill their requirement of having a rookie driver participate in two FP1 sessions last season. Komatsu, who was present during those sessions, recalled how impressed he was with Bearman’s performance. According to Komatsu, it was evident from the start that Bearman possessed something special, not just in terms of speed, but also in his overall abilities and understanding of the objectives. Bearman displayed maturity beyond his years, quickly adapting and making adjustments to improve his performance. Despite his impressive skills, Bearman does not anticipate being in the Ferrari car alongside Charles Leclerc in Australia. However, he will be present at the track as he continues his Formula 2 campaign. Bearman was originally scheduled to start on pole position in Jeddah, but his unexpected call-up to Ferrari changed his plans. Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur remains optimistic about Carlos Sainz’s return for the race in Melbourne.