Ayao Komatsu explains how he is preparing Ollie Bearman for his debut season in F1
09/11/2024 12:55 PM
Ayao Komatsu explained that Ollie Bearman is already well on his way in preparation for his first full season in Formula 1, emphasizing how the young British driver is settling in well with the Haas team, both on and off the track.
Oliver Bearman, backed by Scuderia Ferrari, impressed the paddock with an outstanding performance replacing a Scuderia driver during this year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Ferrari junior is now getting ready for the step from Formula 2 to Formula 1 with Haas in 2025 under team principal Ayao Komatsu.
The English driver was supposed to take part in two more free practice sessions in the second half of the season, but he will have an additional opportunity to get on track at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Haas regular driver Kevin Magnussen was disqualified for the Baku weekend.
Before this development, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu had already outlined the plans for Oliver Bearman, who will be one of three rookies on the 2025 grid, alongside Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Alpine's Jack Doohan. "We set up Ollie's FP1 program before the season started, so he will be participating in more practice sessions," Ayao Komatsu confirmed. "He's also doing simulator sessions with us."
"Moreover, we've been working closely with him for some time now. He knows who we are, he knows how we operate, so in that sense we are already quite advanced in terms of preparation – he's really looking forward to getting started."
With the Ferrari junior set to be partnered by Alpine’s outgoing driver Esteban Ocon in a completely new line-up for Haas – replacing Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, who is headed to Sauber – Ayao Komatsu dismissed any concerns about a lack of continuity in the driving team.
"I don't think so," he said. "Next year's car will obviously be a continuous development of this year's car. We highly value the feedback from Nico and Kevin on this year's car, which will carry over to next year's car." – the Haas team principal concluded.
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