GB3 graduate Ollie Bearman will step up to Formula 1 full time from 2025 onwards, after signing for the MoneyGram Haas F1 team.
The 19-year-old is already a Ferrari Driver Academy member and official reserve for Haas, and made his F1 race debut earlier this season with Ferrari, scoring points as he deputised for an unwell Carlos Sainz.
Bearman has also completed multiple FP1 appearances with Haas, including two last season and a total of six in 2024, with the British Grand Prix this weekend being his third session of the year.
The Chelmsford racer participated in nine GB3 races in 2021, winning at Snetterton and taking further podiums at Brands Hatch and Silverstone, plus two pole positions.
Having won both the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 Championships in the same year, he then moved up to FIA F3 the following year, finishing third in the standings before moving up to FIA F2 in 2023, where he has taken five wins since.
“It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me,” said Bearman. “To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team makes me so immensely proud. To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing what they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible.
“To Gene, Ayao and everyone at Haas, thank you for believing in me and for trusting me to represent your team. I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone since the first time we met in Mexico and I can’t wait to enjoy this moment with them and hopefully many more in the future.
“To Fred, Marco, Jock, Alessandro and everyone at the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, quite simply, I wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for preparing me since F4 for this incredible opportunity and know I will give it everything I have.”
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is looking forward to welcoming one of Britain’s brightest young talents into his line-up.
“It’s an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in Formula 1,” he said.
“He’s developed into an incredibly mature driver under the guidance of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and the world saw that for themselves when he was called in at the last minute to compete at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Oliver proved he was more than ready for the task, and we’ve seen that for ourselves running him in the Haas cars in our FP1 sessions over the past two seasons.
“We’re looking forward to further developing him as a driver and reaping the benefits of his talent – both inside and outside of the car. Oliver’s a great guy and a very welcome addition to the team when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. Now we know that relationship is going to be longer-term, it’s a positive thing for all concerned.”
Gene Haas, Team Owner of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team commented; “I’m pleased we’ve been able to give Oliver Bearman this opportunity to drive full-time in Formula 1 – he’s undoubtedly an exciting rookie prospect, not just based on what he showed in Saudi Arabia but also through his time developing his relationship with our team.
“I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him deliver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team next season and beyond. This is an exciting time for the team. Oliver’s signing shows we continue to invest in talent – both on and off-track – as we continue to compete at the highest level.”