On Thursday morning, Haas were the only team in the Formula 1 paddock without a driver confirmed for the 2025 season.
However, ahead of the British Grand Prix, they announced that Oliver Bearman will be joining the team from the Ferrari Academy after his Formula 2 campaign ends.
The 19-year-old starred at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as Carlos Sainz’s short-term replacement and while his F2 campaign hasn’t gone to plan this year, he’s impressed the Haas hierarchy with his performances in FP1s.
It means there are just six available seats left for next year including the position alongside Bearman at Haas.
Nico Hulkenberg has already decided to join Sauber for next year, while Kevin Magnussen doesn’t appear to be team principal Ayao Komatsu’s first choice for next year.
Speaking on The Race Podcast, journalists Scott Mitchell-Malm and Edd Straw were discussing his potential replacement.
There are a few obvious candidates on the grid such as Esteban Ocon – who will definitely be leaving Alpine – and Valtteri Bottas – who is almost certainly being replaced by Hulkenberg – who would make sense as Haas’s next senior driver.
However, Mitchell-Malm and Straw believe that Daniel Ricciardo, who also doesn’t have a guaranteed seat for 2025, is likely to be out of Haas’s budget.
The Australian has 250 Grand Prix starts under his belt and while he’s not having the best season of his career, signing a driver with that level of experience comes with a price.
Considering Haas are the smallest team in the paddock, they can’t afford to sink too much of their budget into one driver.
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Daniel Ricciardo likely to be out of Haas’s budget for 2025
Talking about Haas’s potential driver line-up for next year, Mitchell-Malm said: “Keeping [Kevin] Magnussen’s not a slam dunk over signing [Daniel] Ricciardo if he gets rejected by Red Bull.
“The only thing with that is that as well as the question marks still over how good Ricciardo is, although I do think the evidence is starting to build up that he does seem to be on a slightly better trajectory now.”
Straw replied: “I think he’s been decent this year. Even when he’s been disappointed and struggling this year, he’s never been McLaren-level struggle. It’s just been a little bit off [Yuki] Tsunoda.”
Mitchell-Malm added: “I agree, but even with that, the concern I have is I don’t think Haas is going to pay his salary. I don’t think Gene [Haas] is willing to put that sort of money up.”
Straw then concluded: “I think that’s probably true and to be honest, I don’t know whether he would justify it for a team like Haas.”
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Daniel Ricciardo might have a lifeline on the grid if he loses RB seat
At the moment, nothing is confirmed about whether it will be Daniel Ricciardo or Liam Lawson driving for Visa Cash App RB in 2025.
Ricciardo has already spoken about what he needs to do to retain his seat and while he’s in the car, the power is still in his hands to display a level of performance that Red Bull can’t ignore.
However, if Red Bull do decide to promote Lawson, even though Ricciardo might be too expensive for Haas, there’s another team potentially interested in his services.
It’s been suggested that Ricciardo could end up being an option for Williams for next year.
Alex Albon is already signed up for next year while Logan Sargeant looks set to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Williams are also said to be running out of patience with top target Carlos Sainz and that could open the door to the Australian to stay on the grid for at least another season.
The post ‘The concern’: Haas unlikely to pay 250-race driver’s salary to partner Oliver Bearman in 2025 – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
