One of the Formula 1 teams who could change both of their drivers for the 2025 season is Haas.
Both Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg have entered the final year of their contracts.
Speaking on The Race Podcast, journalists Edd Straw, Ben Anderson and Scott Mitchell-Malm were discussing the American team’s options going forward.
There was plenty of doom and gloom surrounding the team heading into this season.
They finished bottom of the Constructors’ Championship last year but things haven’t turned around quickly this year.
Hulkenberg has scored points in back-to-back races and secured a top-ten finish in qualifying in Bahrain.
His teammate’s brilliant defensive driving was praised in Saudi Arabia and he earned his first point of the campaign in Melbourne.
However, the outstanding cameo from Oliver Bearman in Jeddah has only strengthened his case of earning a full-time role on the grid next year.
However, new team principal Ayao Komatsu might need to convince Gene Haas that Bearman is worth bringing into the team.
Ayao Komatsu needs to convince Gene Haas over Oliver Bearman opportunity
Gene Haas has every reason to be cautious when it comes to hiring another rookie.
The team failed to score a single point after handing Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin promotions from Formula 2 in 2021.
Mazepin only lasted a single season and Schumacher was replaced by Hulkenberg just 12 months later.
While Schumacher still has Formula 1 aspirations, it’s hard to see either driver getting back on the grid any time soon.
At the moment, Gene Haas might be reluctant to bring in someone like Bearman given how well his current pairing is doing under Komatsu.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship
However, the team have to start looking to the future and Bearman has the potential to be quicker than both of Haas’s current drivers.
The team’s relationship with Ferrari also has to be considered and Bearman is at the front of the queue for a race seat out of the options in their academy.
Haas have 2025 driver dilemma after strong start to the season
Speaking about the chances of the teenager joining Haas, Straw said: “Do they want to gamble on the rookie for next year? They might think they’re better off with the experienced drivers.
“Well, Gene Haas is the ultimate final say. I think if Ayao Komatsu has the final choice, he’ll have [Oliver] Bearman in, but Gene Haas is not keen on rookies, we know that.
“So, they’ll be a process of convincing.”
Anderson added: “Well, Bearman’s not a rookie now, he’s done a race already and he was really good.”
Straw replied: “Well, that’s a fair point! I don’t know where Gene Haas’s threshold for rookies is.”
Mitchell-Malm joked: “I think if Komatsu raised that point with him, Gene Haas would say, ‘Ayao, you are technically correct, which is the best kind of correct and therefore Ollie Bearman will drive for us next year’.”
Oliver Bearman one of several rookies tipped for 2025 F1 seat
Described as ‘world-class’ by former driver Giedo van der Garde, Bearman will hope that Komatsu can persuade Gene Haas that he should be the American team’s newest driver.
He’s going to test for Haas throughout the 2024 season and they’ll have a better idea of whether he’s ready after that.
Another rookie who could be on the grid sooner rather than later is Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli.
There’s talk that he might be driving for Williams before the end of the current season.
The likes of Jack Doohan and current F2 champion Theo Pourchaire are also hoping a space opens up for them on the grid for next year.
They’ll have to be patient and see what opportunities open up as the season rolls on.
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