Exclusive: Haas to confirm first driver for 2025

Haas is to confirm Ollie Bearman as the first part of its driver line-up for 2025, with an announcement due over the course of the British Grand Prix week, RacingNews365 can reveal.

The decision by team principal Ayao Komatsu to sign the 19-year-old Briton does not come as a surprise. Bearman has proven himself to the team since the end of last season when he took part in free practice sessions in Mexico City and Abu Dhabi.

In January, Ferrari confirmed its Academy product would form part of its reserve driver line-up this year, alongside Robert Shwartzman and Antonio Giovinazzi, as well as serving as reserve at Haas. The latter also announced Bearman would take part in an additional six FP1s this year.

The former F4 and Italian F4 champion was given his big break in March when he deputised for Carlos Sainz, who contracted appendicitis and required surgery.

Bearman just missed out on a place in the top-10 shoot-out in qualifying, beaten by seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton by 0.036s, and was half-a-second behind team-mate Charles Leclerc in Q2.

Over the grand prix, Bearman delivered a composed drive to finish seventh ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Hamilton in his Mercedes.

Bearman has since taken part in first practice sessions at Imola, ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, and again on Friday in the build-up to the Spanish GP.

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Asked last Thursday whether the British GP would be the ideal time for the team to make an announcement, he replied: "That's not in my hands."

But sources have confirmed to RacingNews365 that Bearman will be revealed next week as its replacement for Nico Hulkenberg, who moves to Stake/Audi at the end of the year.

Looking ahead to next week in general, when he will again be driving in FP1, Bearman said: "Silverstone is going to be crazy, for sure. There's a lot of things happening.

"Even last year it was busy, but as well as the fact I'm doing FP1, there are a lot more things happening behind the scenes, a lot of fun appearances and stuff.

"It's going to be a busy weekend but I'm so excited for my home race. I really can't wait. It's going to be great, it's going to be fantastic."

Earlier this year, Komatsu expressed faith in Bearman when discussing him as a potential driver for the team. He said: "I have full confidence in him, after the way he handled himself in Mexico and Abu Dhabi with us, and also in Saudi with Ferrari.

"Every single time there's been a new challenge for him he has stepped up and managed it in a pretty impressive way, so I have full confidence."

Bearman's confirmation means there will be four British drivers on the grid in 2025 as he will join Hamilton, Norris and George Russell.