Haas F1 Confirms First 2025 Driver With Multi-Year Contract Announcement

The MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has announced a significant signing — 19-year-old British driver Oliver Bearman will join their squad on a multi-year deal starting from the 2025 Formula 1 season. Bearman is the first confirmed driver for the American team for 2025. Nico Hulkenberg is set to part ways with the team at the end of the year and Kevin Magnussen's contract is still up in the air.

Bearman, already known for his impressive stint as the official reserve driver for both Ferrari and Haas, and stepping in at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Carlos Sainz where he finished seventh, and participating in multiple Free Practice 1 sessions, have evidently prepared him for this significant leap in his career.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu commented on the new arrival to the team, in a press release:

"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'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."

Bearman also commented:

"It's hard to put into words just how much this means to me. 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."

Gene Haas, the owner of the team, further amplified Komatsu's sentiment:

"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."

Bearman's rise through motorsports has been meteoric. After joining the Ferrari Academy in November 2021, his journey through the ranks has been studded with notable milestones—victories in the Italian and ADAC F4 Championships followed by strong performances in both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships.