British teenager Oliver Bearman will make his Formula 1 debut with the Haas F1 Team when he drives the VF-23 in FP1 outings set for the Mexican Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and is already embedded with the American team, this weekend in Qatar.
A member of the Ferrari Driver Academy - who funds his racing career - and a four-time race winner in the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship, Bearman from Chelmsford, England is currently in his rookie season in F2 driving for Prema Racing.
Bearman said of his opportunity of a lifetime: “I am so happy to be joining Haas F1 Team driving in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. Getting to Formula 1 has been my dream since I was go-karting so to be driving a car for the first time this year is really special.
"I’m grateful to the team, and of course Ferrari, for allowing me this chance. I’m working hard to make sure I’m ready to support the team as best I can on both occasions," added the 18-year-old Englishman.
He currently sits sixth overall in the F2 championship with four victories to his credit, including a Sprint triumph in Azerbaijan. Followed by the Feature win also in Baku, as well as additional Feature wins in Spain and Italy.
Bearman has three pole positions and a total of six podium finishes with the season set to conclude with Round 13 in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina Circuit alongside the Formula 1 season finale.
Oliver: I’m grateful to the Haas F1 Team and of course Ferrari
Bearman, who raced in the FIA F3 Championship in 2022 having won the 2021 Italian F4 Championship (8 wins) and 2021 ADAC F4 Championship (six victories), was signed to be a part of the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy in November 2021.
With it, Bearman will be following the likes of Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher and Robert Shwartzman, as well as Antonio Giovinazzi in receiving outings with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team through the team’s long-standing relationship with Scuderia Ferrari.
Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner said in a team statement: “We’re very happy to offer Oliver Bearman these outings in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. He’s had a stellar rookie season in F2, four wins is a testament to that, and as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
"We know his background preparation coming into these weekends will be first-rate. We look forward to welcoming Oliver into the team and have him drive the VF-23," added Steiner.
Each team competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship is mandated to allocate two FP1 sessions to a rookie driver, classified as a driver with no more than two Grand Prix starts. Bearman will embed with Haas F1 Team for this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix by way of preparing for his scheduled practice outings.
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