A major addition has been made by the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team: Oliver Bearman, a 19-year-old British driver, will be a part of the team for several years, beginning with the 2025 Formula 1 season. Bearman is the first driver for the American squad for 2025 who has been confirmed. At the end of the season, Nico Hulkenberg will be leaving the team, and Kevin Magnussen’s contract is still uncertain. It is clear that Bearman’s preparation for this momentous step in his career has come from his stellar time serving as the official reserve driver for both Ferrari and Haas, as well as from filling in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh.
In a press statement, Ayao Komatsu, the principal of the Haas team, offered the following commentary on the new team member: Being able to provide a young driver with Oliver Bearman’s level of potential with his first Formula 1 full-time position is an amazing experience.” He’s become a very mature driver under the tutelage of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, and when he was suddenly called up to compete in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the entire world witnessed it for themselves.
We’ve seen for ourselves that Oliver was more than capable of handling the challenge by having him drive Haas cars in our FP1 sessions over the previous two seasons. We’re eager to see him reach his full potential as a driver and to profit from his skill both within and outside the vehicle. When Oliver joins us for the FP1 weekends, he’s a fantastic guy and a much welcomed addition to the team. We can now be certain that the connection will last longer, which is advantageous for all parties.
Exactly how much this means to me is difficult to express. It gives me great pride to publicly announce that I will be racing Formula 1 for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. It is extremely amazing to be one of the rare individuals who can pursue their childhood dreams.
I appreciate your faith in me and allowing me to represent your team, Gene, Ayao, and everyone else at Haas. Since our initial meeting in Mexico, I’ve truly enjoyed working with everyone of you, and I’m looking forward to sharing many more moments with you in the future. Simply said, without all of you at the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, Fred, Marco, Jock, Alessandro, and I wouldn’t be here. I appreciate all of your efforts in getting me ready for this amazing opportunity since F4, and I promise to give it my all.”
Bearman’s rise through motorsports has been meteoric. After joining the Ferrari Academy in November 2021, his journey through the ranks has been studded with notable milestones—victories in the Italian and ADAC F4 Championships followed by strong performances in both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships.
Komatsu’s attitude was reinforced by the team’s owner, Gene Haas:
Oliver Bearman is clearly an exciting rookie potential, not only based on what he demonstrated in Saudi Arabia but also on his time building a relationship with our team. I’m happy we were able to provide him this chance to drive full-time in Formula 1. We’re eager to watch him succeed for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in the upcoming season and beyond. As a driver, I’m particularly interested to see how he develops. For the team, this is an exciting moment. Oliver’s signing demonstrates that even while we’re competing at the greatest level, we’re still investing in talent, both on and off the track.”