Helmut Marko Helps Frederic Vasseur Solve Ferrari’s Oliver Bearman Dilemma

The 18-year-old Oliver Bearman has proved he is ready for Formula 1 after his impressive debut performance in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Ferrari prodigy was called at short notice just before the third practice session on Friday, filling in for Carlos Sainz, who was unable to drive due to appendicitis. Despite the sudden call-up, Bearman kept his nerve and delivered an impressive performance, qualifying 11th and then converting it to a decent result in the race. Even as rivals like Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton applied pressure in the final laps, Bearman maintained his composure, ultimately finishing seventh, closely trailing George Russell.

However, Bearman’s success poses a difficult situation for Frederic Vasseur. With the Scuderia already locked in with a strong lineup for 2025 and beyond, including Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, accommodating Ollie Bearman becomes a challenge. But Helmut Marko has just the right solution for Vasseur that will allow the Frenchman to bring Bearman onto the F1 scene.

Helmut Marko advises Vasseur to use the customer team to give Oliver Bearman his F1 shot

Bearman’s performance at Jeddah didn’t go unnoticed, earning him praise from seasoned pros like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen, impressed by Bearman’s performance in the practice sessions, was convinced of his talent within just a couple of laps. Lewis Hamilton, while also acknowledging Bearman’s achievement, saw it as a testament to the quality of the Ferrari SF-24 car. Even Helmut Marko, known for his discerning eye in talent spotting, compared Bearman’s debut with the refreshing display of Pedro Acosta in MotoGP.

Even Fred Vasseur was left mighty impressed with the 18-year-old prodigy’s remarkable debut at the challenging Jeddah Corniche Circuit. He highlighted the difficulty of avoiding mistakes in such circumstances, especially without the usual practice sessions. He expressed his astonishment at Bearman’s error-free performance. And now that Bearman has demonstrated that he is more than ready for his promotion to F1, where does Ferrari bring him in? Helmut Marko offers his perspective to Vasseur.

As quoted by FormulaPassion in a recent report, Helmut Marko said, “The debut of Oliver Bearman was sensational with Ferrari. In some situations, he was almost on par with Charles Leclerc on a selective circuit like Jeddah. But what does Ferrari do now? They already have Hamilton and Leclerc, both on long-term contracts, and Bearman is a super talent. If I were in Vasseur’s [position] I would immediately find a seat in Bearman in Haas for example. It’s true that young people now arrive at their debut very well prepared, but it’s only if you’re really talented that you steal the show.”

READ MORE: Oliver Bearman Reveals Surprise Help From Lewis Hamilton After a Grueling Race

While many including Helmut Marko and former Ferrari boss, Peter Windsor, have said that Bearman has guaranteed his promotion to F1 and see Haas as a perfect landing spot for the Brit, Bearman himself spoke about the prospects for an F1 entry with the American team.

Oliver Bearman wants to build a strong relationship with Haas

Reflecting on his experience in Saudi Arabia, Bearman acknowledged the physical demands of the race, describing it as “one of the lowest degradation tracks of the season” with high lateral G-forces. However, Bearman remains humble about his achievements, stating, “I don’t know what else I can do…push in F2 and cross my fingers.”

When asked by the media to comment on his prospects of a permanent drive in Formula 1, Bearman acknowledged the importance of building a strong relationship with Haas during the 2024 F1 season. He recognizes that it could pave the way for a full-time F1 seat in the future. He plans to use his FP1 sessions with Haas throughout the 2024 season to gain more experience and solidify his position within the team. “I have a lot of FPs with Haas this year, so I’m looking forward to building up a relationship and gaining more miles in the car,” said Ollie Bearman.

With almost a dozen driver contracts coming to an end this season, could Bearman end up driving for Haas in 2025? Share your insights in the comments down below.