Haas targets to "restart" its F1 project, and expects a lot from Ferrari sensation Oliver Bearman
Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu has revealed that the American team will chose an experienced driver alongside freshly-signed Oliver Bearman from whom the Japanese expects a lot in his debut season.
Formula One's sole American outfit confirmed last week that Ferrari junior driver Oliver Bearman will drive for the American team in 2025, making his debut as a full-time driver in Formula One.
Bearman, in his additional role as reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari, made a memorable Formula 1 debut back in March in Saudi Arabia substituting for the sidelined Carlos Sainz – in doing so becoming the third-youngest racer in Formula 1 history. The then 18-year-old from Chelmsford finished in P7 at his debut.
Assessing Haas' current situation, team boss Ayao Komatsu noted: "We are still pretty much a growing team. We are a relatively new team. And then we are restarting, let's say, and improving our performance.
"And Ollie, obviously, is a very talented young driver with a very strong head on his shoulders. And he's very calm, but mature, got the speed, and very much a team player. So the things how we want to progress as a team, that's what I mean by a very perfect match.
Reflecting on Bearman's first F1 outing at last year's Mexican Grand Prix, Komatsu said: "Because, again, that's what was impressive before when we first put him in the car in Mexico, you know, very first time in a Formula 1 car, FP1 session.
"Of course, he was excited. But then again, he understood the objective of the team what this session means to the team, what we need to achieve. And then, of course, he's trying to drive as fast as possible. But within that bigger picture, he understands always the context very, very well.
"So that's what was impressive before. And then, of course, you know, it's not something he needed to change today. Of course, he was, I'm sure, very happy to drive in front of his home crowd after the announcement. So he was enjoying it. But fundamentally, the approach was exactly the same."
Haas is yet to confirm the driver who will race alongside Bearman in 2024. Komatsu refused to reveal the identity of the possible candidates, but he gave away that it will be an experienced driver.
"For a team like us, we cannot have two rookies. So now that we've taken Ollie as a rookie, we will try to appoint somebody who's got decent F1 experience."
