Photo: LAT Photo
Ollie Bearman will follow up his free practice outing with Haas at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend by driving for the team in post-season testing at the track next week.
In early October the team announced Ferrari junior Bearman would join them for the first practice session at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix, and a few days later he completed his first Formula 1 test with Ferrari to make him eligible.
After Bearman impressed in his Mexico City outing, Haas’s trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu said he was hoping the team could run him in more sessions after this season. It is already confirmed for 2024 that Bearman will be embarking on a second season in Formula 2, but Ferrari has also said he will get ‘much more’ in F1-related opportunities.
“We’re fielding an exciting line-up for the final running of this season,” stated Haas’s team principal Guenther Steiner.
“Ollie had a great first outing with us in Mexico City, and his attitude, work ethic and feedback really impressed us, so we’re delighted to give him more time with the team to further expand his knowledge of driving a F1 car.”
Bearman’s running next week will be in the sessions that are part of F1’s official young driver test.
“We’re doing FP1 together on Friday, so it will be great to be able to build on that and get a full day in the car,” said the 18-year-old.
“The young driver test is the last chance the team will get this year to work on things for 2024 and I’ll try and do a solid job. The team made me feel very comfortable since we met in Qatar and I really enjoy working with them, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Abu Dhabi.”