Incoming Haas Formula 1 driver Ollie Bearman has already made a vital impression on the American squad when it comes to his “maturity” and “ability to understand the bigger picture.”
That's the view of team principal Ayao Komatsu, who has signed Bearman to race alongside Esteban Ocon within the all-new Haas driver line-up for 2025.
Bearman, a Ferrari junior who has impressed for Haas since arriving in training in Mexico last 12 months as a rookie, was capable of show how he copes with the varied pressures of a race weekend for a support team engaged in a good championship fight [with RB] in his final one-off race of the 12 months instead of the banned Kevin Magnussen in Azerbaijan.
Finishing seventh for Ferrari, replacing the appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia in the beginning of the season, Bearman scored one other point by ending tenth in Baku.
Asked by Motorsport.com if he was surprised by the return, given the Bearman driver's lack of top-level Formula 2 experience, Komatsu insisted: “I'm not surprised.
“But I don't need to take anything away from Ollie. I'm not surprised because I saw so many good things with him in the primary training that it was exactly what I expected.
“When he first drove for us in the primary training session in Mexico – what really impressed me was his ability to grasp the larger picture – to grasp the role he needed to play, what he needed to do [and] When. And also how quickly he can learn.
Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24
Photo: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images
“For Baku, the goal was completely different. [It’s a] a very different attitude throughout all the race weekend [compared to just practice outings]but when it comes to what he did – what he did, how quickly he learned – that's all I saw in Mexico after we first coached him in the primary training session.
“Yes, after all, FP3 [where Bearman crashed on his first push lap in Baku] was a failure.
“So I didn't know one thing – how he would address such a defeat.
“But however he was really good, he managed to alter and focus, get back to what he did well on Friday, after which got into Q1 that way. It was sensible.
“It's impressive. But that's what I expected.”
Komatsu also praised Bearman's “maturity” when he was asked to swap positions with interim teammate Nico Hulkenberg on the opening stint of the Baku race – because the Briton was lapping too slowly following Haas' tire management instructions when Hulkenberg showed that the tires they’ll pull off a surprise faster pace on a difficult street track.
“What he showed in the race when we had to ask for a change of position during the first run and then… he wasn't happy,” Komatsu added. “Which I totally understand why.
Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Photo: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images
“But despite the fact that he was unhappy about it, he just did it.
“He then didn't let Nico pass after which delayed the race for an additional lap or two. This shows maturity again, doesn't it? That's great.
Bearman's point in Baku was earned after he passed Hulkenberg following Sainz and Sergio Perez's late-race crash, during which the leading Haas driver did not react to the green flag board after passing the incident and hitting debris, which was followed by Lewis Hamilton.
Following Mercedes' past, Hulkenberg showed “awareness and calm,” in keeping with Komatsu Bearman.
“That's one other thing, he's all the time calm, even when he's nervous or facing adversity.
“He's just very calm, even that yellow flag at the top of the race after the massive crash, numerous debris – but he was calm again.
“He had the presence of mind to say, 'OK, Nico doesn't care.' [and] he just left.”
