Formula 1 team Haas has nominated two reserve drivers for the 2024 season, allowing Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman to take part in six Friday practice sessions
Haas is entering the 2024 Formula 1 season with two replacement drivers. Last year’s weakest team has confirmed its long-time test driver Pietro Fittipaldi for another year and has taken on an additional driver in the form of Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman
And Bearman is allowed to do more than just intervene in an emergency: Haas lets the British junior driver drive in Friday practice at a total of six race weekends. In Imola, Barcelona, Silverstone, Budapest, Mexico City and Abu Dhabi, Bearman will contest the first free practice session in place of a regular driver.
The interesting thing about this is that Haas is exceeding the Formula 1 rules, which only allow two Friday sessions for young drivers. Bearman completed precisely these two appearances for Haas in 2023 and impressed the team in the process
Why Haas puts Bearman in the car so often
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu says: “Oliver arrived well in the team last year and also completed his program well in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. We are looking forward to giving him more opportunities [in a Formula 1 car] in 2024. Testing is limited, so it’s important for us to track Oliver’s progress and give him driving time.”
In parallel to his Formula 1 role at Haas, Bearman will continue in Formula 2 in 2024, where he will be in his second year. Fittipaldi also has his own racing project: he will compete as a regular driver in the US IndyCar series in 2024.
“We’re delighted that he’s got a cockpit there,” says Team Principal Komatsu. “This allows Pietro to do what he loves: racing. But he is still part of the Haas family.” And he is already in his sixth season. Highlight so far: two Grand Prix appearances in 2020 as a replacement for the injured Romain Grosjean after his fire accident in Bahrain
Bearman: replacement driver at Haas and Ferrari
2024 Fittipaldi wants to “continue to contribute to the development” and “support the Haas team in the best possible way” over the course of the season. Bearman, on the other hand, primarily wants to build on his 2023 commitments and says: “I am very grateful to Haas and Ferrari for their trust in me and for their support.”
In fact, Ferrari Junior Bearman will also be one of three official Ferrari reserve drivers in Formula 1 in the 2024 season alongside Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Schwarzman.