Helmut Marko, the influential consultant for Red Bull’s F1 team, has suggested that Ferrari should secure a spot for the talented newcomer Oliver Bearman with Haas for the 2025 season. After a stellar maiden performance in Saudi Arabia, where he finished seventh suddenly filling in for the unwell Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s team leader Frederic Vasseur acknowledged the potential for Bearman’s full-time debut at Haas next year as a “possibility”.
Describing Bearman’s latest outing as “sensational,” Marko was particularly impressed by the young driver’s capability to handle the demanding Jeddah circuit with limited preparation, stating it showcased remarkable strength. He even mentioned that Bearman occasionally matched Charles Leclerc’s pace on the track. Marko criticized Ferrari’s strategic decisions, pointing out their investment in the high-profile (Lewis) Hamilton, alongside Leclerc’s enduring contract, while a talent like Bearman is making waves.
“To be on a track like Jeddah like that without much practice was really powerful,” Marko praised, adding, “At times he drove almost at the same level as Charles Leclerc. But what is Ferrari doing? They are buying the expensive (Lewis) Hamilton, Leclerc has a long-term contract, and now Bearman is showing off a super talent. If I were Fred Vasseur, I would immediately find Bearman a cockpit in another team – I don’t know, at Haas for example,” he recommended.
Haas, benefiting from Ferrari’s engines and purchasing various components from them, including sharing a technical base in Maranello, might face a financial negotiation to accommodate Bearman. Marko hinted at a potentially costly arrangement, “The teams are currently relatively financially saturated, so they will make them (Ferrari) pay dearly for it.”
Ayao Komatsu, Haas’ new chief, admires Bearman’s skills but remains cautious about making immediate commitments regarding the driver lineup, praising Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg’s performances. He commented, “He deserves a chance next year. But apart from the penalty, Kevin (Magnussen) showed a fantastic performance (in Saudi Arabia). Nico (Hulkenberg) also delivered. So how can I sit here and say that he (Bearman) is our driver for next year? Based on (Saturday’s) performance, it is Nico and Kevin.”
Despite this, Bearman is slated for six initial practice sessions with Haas in 2024, hinting at his significant potential. Komatsu had previously noted Bearman’s “something special” talent during last year’s sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, considering him for a full-time debut in 2025. “Absolutely yes,” he said after Jeddah. “It was already clear to us last year that he has the total package. He is definitely on our radar and I am very happy for him,” Komatsu affirmed.
Ralf Schumacher stresses the importance of introducing new talents like Bearman into F1, highlighting the current lack of full-time rookies as a concerning trend for the sport’s future and its financial backers. “The sponsors, the investors, the fathers will eventually no longer believe that the young ones will get anywhere, even if they support them,” he stated, underlining the critical need for fresh faces in F1 to sustain interest and investment in the sport. “We’re talking about big sums of money that have to come back to them somehow. At some point, no one will be interested in it anymore. And I think that’s dangerous,” Schumacher concluded, pointing to the broader implications of neglecting young talent in Formula 1.
GMM
