Ayao Komatsu: "I see Oliver Bearman as Ferrari's future"

01/25/2025 01:49 PM

Ollie Bearman's ultimate test

2024 was a strange year for Oliver Bearman. The British talent finished the F2 championship in 12th place, far from the high expectations surrounding the Ferrari Driver Academy prospect. However, in the three occasions he was called up to Formula 1 to replace Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen (Jeddah, Baku, and Interlagos), Oliver Bearman impressed everyone, scoring points on his debut with both Ferrari and Haas.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu repeatedly emphasized that Bearman's promotion was tied to his ability to perform as required during every test and session with the team. For the Japanese principal, it was far more important for Bearman to learn the practical aspects of Formula 1, which is why in 2025, the young driver is expected to make life difficult for teammate Esteban Ocon.

Ayao Komatsu's comments

Komatsu believes Bearman has the potential to make the most of his time at Haas and become a future Ferrari driver, following a trajectory similar to George Russell's journey from Williams to Mercedes: "Ollie has shown enough in terms of potential, but what impressed me the most is that he truly understood his role. He learned what the team wanted to achieve, and when the team provided him with information, he could adapt and correct himself. I can't believe he's 18, and I see him as a future Ferrari driver. We signed him for two years (with an option for a third), and if we do a good job, there's no way Ferrari can overlook him."

"I don't consider him a rookie, and we don't treat him as one because we pay close attention to what he has to say," Komatsu added. "He has good experience thanks to his Ferrari training and has driven the VF-23 and VF-24. Every time he got in the car, his feedback and approach were excellent." – the Haas team principal concluded.

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