18-year-old Bearman named Ferrari F1 reserve

Oliver Bearman has been named as a Ferrari Formula 1 reserve driver after an impressive rookie season in Formula 2 last year and strong FP1 outings for Haas. The 18-year-old won the German and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2021, moving up to Formula 3 the following year and finishing third overall as a rookie — seven points behind champion Victor Martins. Immediately stepping up to Formula 2, Bearman was sixth in the standings with four victories and three pole positions, but it was his Haas outings towards the end of the season that caught the eye. Bearman drove for Haas in both Mexico City and Abu Dhabi in late 2023, and new team principal Ayao Komatsu admitted he was “really impressed” with the Briton and said his potential was “very promising.” At the time, the team suggested he would get more outings. Ferrari has now confirmed that Bearman will be one of three reserve drivers this season, alongside Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Shwartzman. With both Giovinazzi and Shwartzman racing in the World Endurance Championship this season, Bearman — who is remaining in F2 with Prema — will be called upon if needed whenever this a clash between the F1 and WEC calendars. Bearman will get his first taste of recent Ferrari machinery as part of a Pirelli tire test at Barcelona next week, with Ferrari running two cars at different times. The 2023 car (SF-23) will be driven by race drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on Jan. 29 and for a spell of Jan. 30, while Bearman drives the 2022 car — the SF-75 — on Jan. 31. Alongside Bearman’s announcement, Arthur Leclerc — younger brother of Charles — has been named as a Ferrari development driver and will drive the 2022 car on the opening day of the test. Full-time drivers Leclerc and Sainz will be splitting their track time between the SF-23 and the SF-75 on January 30.