Haas group principal Ayao Komatsu is in little question that Oliver Bearman can be a future Formulation 1 driver for Ferrari.
The Italian group has began working with Lewis Hamilton this week, however fellow Briton Bearman, who’s a part of the group’s driver programme, can be coming into this season as a full-time F1 driver.
Bearman has been shipped out on mortgage to Haas after a string of spectacular performances throughout FP1 classes for the Banbury-based group in 2023 and 2024.
Bearman additionally crammed in for the stricken Carlos Sainz to drive for Ferrari within the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP when the Spaniard had appendicitis.
He defied expectations to deliver the SF-24 dwelling in seventh place incomes the plaudits, however Komatsu stated he by no means doubted Bearman from the second he had his debut for Haas when he drove in FP1 on the 2023 Mexico Metropolis GP.
When requested by Motorsport.com if he noticed Bearman as a future Ferrari driver, Komatsu stated: “Sure. He’s a Ferrari driver and we have got him for 2 years – plus an choice for an additional one – but when we do job and if Ollie does job, there is no method Ferrari can ignore that.
“It is humorous about Ollie being a rookie as a result of I do not deal with him as a rookie within the sense, as a result of we pay numerous consideration to what he has to say.
Ayao Komatsu, Crew Principal, Haas F1 Crew, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Crew, Mark Slade, Race Engineer, Haas F1 Crew
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
“In fact he is obtained good expertise in Ferrari’s training, simulator, and many others. And he is been driving our automotive – VF-23 and VF-24.
“Each time he will get within the automotive, his suggestions’s been glorious. The method has been glorious, velocity has been nice.
“You noticed in Baku and Interlagos, each qualifying classes he out-qualified [former Haas driver] Nico [Hulkenberg], who was our reference.”
Komatsu has made it clear that he has been impressed by Bearman’s suggestions and his angle, shelving his personal try to point out his velocity by working by means of the group’s programmes throughout his FP1 outings.
The Haas group principal is now desirous to see how the 19-year-old progresses together with his F1 profession and can see Ferrari to debate how it will likely be monitoring his growth.
Komatsu added: “I am positive Ferrari need common suggestions. I am truly going to see them within the first week of February so I can perceive precisely what sort of suggestions they want.
“However I would like to provide them suggestions as nicely, as a result of they’ve been a vital a part of his profession, in order that they know Ollie higher than us, so any assist we will get from that aspect could be helpful as nicely.
“I would wish to work fairly carefully with the man who has been coping with Ollie.”
Images from the Ferrari testing at Fiorano
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