Oliver Bearman found himself in a fortuitous position when he made his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari, a move some are considering a stroke of luck. Naomi Schiff, a former racer turned pundit, believes Bearman’s current Formula 2 results don’t justify his promotion to the Haas F1 team.
Bearman began his 2024 season in Formula 2 with Prema, quickly making a mark by qualifying on pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. His plans, however, changed abruptly when he was called up to replace Carlos Sainz in Formula 1.
In his first qualifying session with Ferrari, Bearman secured the 11th spot and managed to race to a commendable seventh place finish on Sunday. His performance garnered widespread praise, even catching the attention of Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, who saw potential in Bearman for the future.
Ironically, Bearman’s bright start in F1 contrasted with his inconsistent Formula 2 season. Heading into the summer break, the 19-year-old had only one victory—a P1 finish at the Red Bull Ring’s Sprint race—and had yet to replicate his lost Saudi Arabian pole position. Sitting 15th in the Formula 2 championship, his spot was actually lower than his P14 ranking in Formula 1.
Despite this, Haas announced in July that Bearman would be part of their 2025 lineup. Schiff points out that Bearman’s chance to drive in Jeddah was a significant factor in securing this promotion. She remarked on Sky F1, “I think he was incredibly lucky… based off of his results in Formula Two this year, he would probably not have been a candidate for the seat.”
Bearman has had multiple opportunities to gain experience, including six free practices with Haas, one of which he completed last year. Schiff believes these experiences will help him come into Formula 1 well-prepared. “Not a lot of drivers get to come in and have lived in the real action on many occasions,” she noted.
When Bearman officially debuts in Formula 1 next year, he will race with the number 87, a choice that holds personal significance. He shared, “It’s the number that I raced since the beginning and it’s the number that my dad raced with… because I’m born on the eighth of May, and my brother on the seventh of August. So, 87 is the number of choice, and that will continue to be the case.”
Oliver Bearman’s journey to the Haas F1 team underscores how a timely opportunity can shape a driver’s career. While his Formula 2 results may not fully justify the promotion, his performance in Jeddah and subsequent preparation make him a noteworthy contender in the 2025 F1 season.
