It will be a ‘massive’ surprise if Oliver Bearman isn’t racing in Formula 1 in 2025, F1TV presenter Will Buxton says.
Bearman impressed on his F1 debut in Saudi Arabia as he replaced an unwell Carlos Sainz.
And Buxton expects him to be competing in the sport full-time next year after his showing.
It’s not yet clear if Bearman, who’s competing for Prema in F2 in 2024, will race at the Australian Grand Prix in a fortnight’s time.
Sainz will need medical approval after undergoing surgery for appendicitis.
Bearman qualified 11th on the grid just hours after learning that he’d be filling in for the Spaniard.
He then executed overtakes on Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda and Haas veteran Nico Hulkenberg.
The 18-year-old held onto seventh place in the closing stages under pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on faster soft tyres.
Will Buxton lauds Oliver Bearman after Saudi Arabian GP debut
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Buxton told Bearman to ‘take a bow’ after fans voted him the driver of the day in Jeddah.
In addition to getting six points on the board, he’d maintained a respectable pace relative to five-time race-winning teammate Charles Leclerc.
Buxton is fully expecting to see him on the 2025 grid after he handled ‘tremendous’ pressure expertly.
He wrote: “Take a bow. Driver of the Day. Points on debut at an average of less than 0.5 a lap off Leclerc’s pace.
“Absolutely brilliant drive over two days at zero notice and under tremendous pressure.
“If he doesn’t have a fulltime seat in 2025 it’ll be a massive shock.”
Where could Bearman go for 2025?
Bearman will be aware of multiple opportunities for next year, with more than half the grid in the final year of their deals.
Haas would appear to be the most natural destination, with the teenager due to take part in six practice sessions for the team this year.
With both Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen out of contract at the end of the campaign, team principal Ayo Komatsu has called Bearman a ‘total package’.
Ferrari also supply engines to Stake F1 Team, where Leclerc started out before his shot with the Prancing Horse.
However, it’s unclear what impact Audi’s impending takeover in 2026 will have on the team’s driver line-up.
The doors to the Scuderia themselves are shut for the moment, with Leclerc locked in alongside Sainz’s replacement Hamilton.
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