Photo: LAT Photo
Haas has signed Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman as one of its Formula 1 reserve drivers for the 2024 season.
The 18-year-old Briton drove for Haas in the first practice session at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix last year, then stayed with the team for post-season testing.
Bearman impressed Haas in those outings, and the team expressed an interest in using his services again for 2024. Last week it was announced he would be working in an F1 role this year, but as Ferrari’s reserve driver. An agreement has now been reached for Bearman to be made available to Haas, which is one of Ferrari’s engine customers in F1, too.
The events where Bearman will be on reserve duty for Haas include the Emilia Romagna, Spanish, British, Hungarian, Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix, as he has been confirmed as driving in FP1 at those six races.
“I’m really happy to be part of Haas F1 Team for the upcoming season. I had a great experience last year working with everyone at the team and I’m looking forward to building on that this year,” said Bearman.
“There are several events I’ll be doing FP1s at – alongside the reserve duties, which is exciting. I’m grateful to Haas and Scuderia Ferrari for their faith and for supporting me.”
Bearman came sixth in his rookie Formula 2 season last year with Prema, and he will remain with the team for a second campaign. All 14 of the rounds on F2’s 2024 calendar support F1, and it means at Imola, Barcelona, Silverstone, the Hungaroring and Yas Marina Circuit there will be a busy Friday for Bearman as he drives in F1 and F2 practice.
Pietro Fittipaldi is Haas’s other reserve driver, and will be with the team on weekends that do not clash with IndyCar, where he races full-time for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
“I’m pleased to have both Oliver Bearman and Pietro Fittipaldi as our reserve drivers,” said Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu.
“Oliver did a tremendous job for us last season settling in well and working through both his FP1 run programmes in Mexico and Abu Dhabi and then with his test programme. We’re looking forward to giving him the opportunity for more outings in FP1 in 2024 – with testing at a premium this is key running time, both for us to evaluate Oliver’s progress but also to enable him seat time in a F1 car.”