Ferrari reserve driver Oliver Bearman has been told that he’s likely to be a top contender to drive for Haas in 2025.
The 18-year-old was superb in Saudi Arabia and has already been told by Charles Leclerc that it’s only a matter of time until he’s on the grid.
On the Unlapped Podcast, journalist Lawrence Edmondson believes that the teenager is most likely on his way to the only American outfit on the grid.
Bearman now a ‘top contender’ for Haas seat
The lack of rookies on the grid in 2024 has been a big talking point, with Eddie Jordan calling the decision ‘scandalous’.
Nyck de Vries proved in 2022 that a one-race cameo is sometimes all you need to earn a spot on the grid.
Liam Lawson was handed a similar role at AlphaTauri last year when Daniel Ricciardo picked up an injury and impressed the Red Bull hierarchy.
However, he wasn’t offered a permanent seat which RB might be regretting now given the struggles of Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo.
Ollie Bearman could have provided Ferrari with a similar dilemma after his fantastic drive in Jeddah.
Unfortunately for him, Frederic Vasseur has already locked in his line-up for 2025 and beyond with Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
However, Bearman appears to be a top contender for a Haas seat next year which will be bad news for either Nico Hulkenberg or Kevin Magnussen.
Hulkenberg is the man off the mark in the standings but has Magnussen to thank for his point due to his exceptional defensive drive.
The pair will be well aware already that they might be fighting each other to partner Bearman going forward.
Bearman a shoo-in for 2025 F1 seat
Speaking about his future, Edmondson said: “The obvious route in is with Haas. He did a couple of FP1 sessions, one in Mexico and one in Abu Dhabi and the FIA have actually set regulations whereby teams have to hand over first practice sessions to a driver with less than two races experience.
“So, he’s already done that with Haas, he’s going to do some more of that with Haas this year.
“I think that puts him as a key contender for a Haas seat going into next year. Obviously, we know that Ferrari’s line-up is set, that’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, so no space there unless something unusual happens.
“Those two guys [Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg] have really got to impress to either remain there or to perhaps move somewhere else.
“They’re just so connected those two teams [Haas and Ferrari] that it would make a lot of sense for Bearman to join Haas. That looks very possible.
“Off the back of what he did in Saudi Arabia and the expectations of what he can do in F2, I think he’s going to put forward an incredibly strong case for that seat, to the point where I would be very surprised if he doesn’t get it now.”
The British teenager could earn one more drive in F1 this season if Carlos Sainzisn’t fit enough to drive in Australia.
If he doesn’t feature in Melbourne, Bearman can still prove he’s a strong contender for a Haas seat when he drives in the aforementioned practice sessions.
He’s also got to perform in Formula 2 and while he’s yet to get off the mark in that championship, his six points in F1 are worth more than any victory at that level.
The post ‘Looks very possible’: Oliver Bearman now told he’s ‘top contender’ for one F1 seat in 2025 – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.