FOLLOW THE BEAR
ROUND 5: MIAMI GRAND PRIX NEXT SUNDAY, SKY SPORTS Teen takes step closer to replacing Lew
BRITISH racing starlet Oliver Bearman is on the verge of landing a place on next year’s Formula 1 grid.
The Ferrari youngster is seen as the possible heir to Lewis Hamilton’s place with the Scuderia and will be one step closer to that dream.
Bearman, 18, is the top candidate for the Haas seat, which will be vacated by Nico Hulkenberg.
The 36-year-old German has agreed to be part of Audi’s new F1 project and will join the team next year, ahead of its transition from Sauber.
Bearman has already driven in practice sessions for American team Haas and left boss Ayao Komatsu impressed.
Convinced
But his stellar F1 debut for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia last month, filling in for the unwell Carlos Sainz, has convinced decision-makers that the Chelmsford teenager is ready.
Komatsu described Bearman’s performance as “amazing” and admitted: “He deserves a chance next year.”
Any deal reached would effectively be a loan – Ferrari allowing Bearman to drive for Haas to give him vital F1 experience. Once blooded, he is seen as the man who could take over the mantle from Hamilton when the seven-time champion retires.
Hamilton’s deal runs for two years, until the end of 2026, with an option for a third.
That will give Bearman plenty of time to get settled on the grid and hone his craft to prove he should one day be promoted to the main Ferrari team.
Haas insist, however, that there will be no further driver news from them any time soon.
Bearman, currently in Formula 2, is set to get behind the wheel of their car for more practice sessions this year, while the teenager is also expected to turn out for Ferrari again.
Exit
Sainz’s impending Ferrari exit is what made room for Hamilton in the first place – and the Spaniard’s future is key to where the driver market goes from here.
There are still 11 seats up for grabs, with much depending on what Audi do with their spaces.
Now Hulkenberg is confirmed, at least one of Valtteri Bottas or Zhou Guanyu will be heading for the exit – and very possibly both – as Audi set their sights on Sainz (above).
The 29-year-old, has been in talks with the German carmaker for months and is believed to have been offered a role beyond his driving career.
But he has delayed his decision, hoping that Red Bull might come calling if they decide to axe Sergio Perez.