Formula 1 News: Oliver Bearman Overcomes F2 Struggles to Secure Haas Seat for 2025 Season
As the Formula 1 community gears up for the British Grand Prix, Haas announced a significant development in their driver lineup for the 2025 season. British driver Oliver Bearman has signed a multi-term contract with the American team, paving the way for his Formula 1 debut. This news comes as a culmination of Bearman’s impressive performances in practice outings with Haas over the past 12 months.
Bearman, who currently competes in Formula 2, conceded that his struggles in the 2024 season had raised doubts about his Formula 1 prospects. However, he remained optimistic about his chances, citing his strong showings in practice sessions with Haas. “I mean, of course, I felt like I’ve been performing well since the beginning in free practices,” Bearman said. “And obviously, every time I’ve driven with Haas, I did the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, I’ve always got out of the car feeling like I’ve put in a good image of myself.”
The Briton’s F1 debut in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, where he substituted for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, proved to be a turning point in his career. He went on to finish an impressive seventh, beating Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton in the process. Bearman acknowledges that this unexpected opportunity played a significant role in securing his Haas seat. “I think the Saudi performance was the stars aligning moment that made my step into F1 possible,” he said.
“I do feel like the F1 running carried a lot of weight… But there’s no way of hiding behind the fact that in F2, it continues to be a little bit more difficult, and that always leaves a question mark in the back of your mind.”
With his future now secure, Bearman is looking forward to focusing on his Formula 2 campaign without the added pressure. “It’s crazy how far away it [his F1 debut] is, but I’m also happy to get things done early, it’s something off my mind, and no more stress after that,” he explained. As he prepares to tackle the remaining rounds of the Formula 2 season, Bearman is determined to learn from his experiences and be ready for the challenges that lie ahead in Formula 1.
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