Haas confirms Ferrari protégé as 2024 reserve

Haas has confirmed that Ferrari Academy Driver Oliver Bearman will share the reserve driver role with Pietro Fittipaldi at the team in 2024.

Bearman has already been confirmed as a reserve for Ferrari, and he will now cover both roles on Grands Prix weekends he can attend.

As part of his duties, Bearman will get six FP1 sessions with Haas this year: Imola, Spain, Silverstone, Hungary, Mexico and Abu Dhabi.

The British driver will return to competing in the 2024 Formula 2 season with Prema Racing, having won four races in the F1 feeder series last year.

Bearman commented: "I'm really happy to be part of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for the upcoming season. I had a great experience last year working with everyone at the team and I'm looking forward to building on that this year.

"There are several events I'll be doing FP1's at - alongside the reserve duties, which is exciting. I'm grateful to Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari for their faith and for supporting me."

Komatsu praises 'tremendous' Bearman

Newly appointed Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu, said: "I'm pleased to have both Oliver Bearman and Pietro Fittipaldi as our reserve drivers. Oliver did a tremendous job for us last season settling in well and working through both his FP1 run programs in Mexico and Abu Dhabi and then with his test program.

"We're looking forward to giving him the opportunity for more outings in FP1 in 2024 - with testing at a premium this is key running time, both for us to evaluate Oliver's progress but also to enable him seat time in a Formula 1 car.

"Having Pietro with us for a sixth season is valuable as he again provides continuity and he's been a great contributor to our program over the years - both on and off-track. We're excited he's landed a full-time IndyCar ride this season, so he can do what he loves to do - and that's to race, but he's there for us too as part of the Haas family."

Haas will reveal their 2024 challenger on February 2nd, with a shakedown also set to be ran on February 11th ahead of preseason testing in Bahrain between 21st-23rd February.