Oliver Bearman is set to make a full-time Formula 1 debut with Haas in 2025. Bearman has always been the clear favourite to replace Nico Hulkenberg at the American team.
The 18-year-old starred for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix back in March, with Carlos Sainz unable to race because of illness. By finishing P7 and winning driver of the day, he also impressed Haas.
Bearman was already a contender for a seat under Ayao Komatsu. He’s an academy driver for their engine suppliers, and he’s due to drive in six FP1 sessions for the team in 2024.
A report during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend claimed that the F2 star now signed a deal to succeed the Audi-bound Hulkenberg next year. All that remains at this point is an announcement.
But there will still be intrigue over the other seat. Kevin Magnussen is vulnerable as he approaches the end of his contract.
Magnussen has scored only one of the team’s seven points so far this year and, more significantly, he’s landed himself in trouble with the stewards. With 10 penalty points to his name, he’s on the verge of a race ban.
Zhou Guanyu offers Haas huge sponsorship windfall
According to Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt, speaking on the Formel Schmidt podcast, Alpine driver Esteban Ocon is a strong contender to replace Magnussen. Komatsu sees him as a driver who will score points more often than not in a clean race.
Ocon is leaving Alpine at the end of the season and Martin Brundle expects him to make the move. He already has a close friendship with the Japanese team principal.
But Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu is also trying to muscle his way into contention. Zhou may be the victim of Hulkenberg’s arrival.
One journalist has previously described the 25-year-old as a ‘pay driver’, and he would apparently bring the team up to £27m in commercial deals if he joined. But that may not be enough to save his career given that he’s only scored 12 points in 53 race starts.
Schmidt said: “Zhou also offers a lot of money. There’s talk of $30m-$35m, but Haas can’t do that. The problem is they have a rookie in Bearman. [Ocon] is a sure point-setter, and that shows up when it’s [a] clean [race].”
How much Oliver Bearman will earn at Haas next year
Haas clearly want an experienced and reliable driver alongside Bearman. They fielded an all-rookie line-up back in 2021 with Mick Schumacher alongside Nikita Mazepin, but both of them were off the grid within two years.
Magnussen has shown that even veterans can get involved in one incident too many, so Komatsu seems to be pursuing a balance. Much as Bearman clearly has huge potential – one F1 expert has likened him to George Russell – he may need time to realise it.
The teenager will apparently earn between £5k and £6k a week during his first year at Haas. That will make him the lowest-paid driver on the grid, though there’s scope for it to double in season two.
With so few resources used up on Bearman, Haas don’t necessarily need to worry too much about putting a pay driver alongside him, which could be bad news for Zhou. They could even receive a discount on their Ferrari engine under their agreement with the Scuderia.
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