Will Hamilton take Bearman under his wings? 'My door's always open...'
F1 News
It is now official: Oliver Bearman will become a full-time Formula One driver at Haas, after the young Briton has signed a multi-year deal with the American team. As the young Briton will now officially enter the grid, the current most experienced British driver, Lewis Hamilton, was asked whether he would help Bearman out in the future.
Hamilton, currently the second most experienced driver on the Formula One grid (only behind Fernando Alonso), believes Bearman doesn't need anything from him, after he laughed. "No, not even been a thought. I don't think he needs to. I think he's a sharp enough a-lad," Hamilton then said on a more serious note.
However, Hamilton also said that if the young Briton needs something, he will be there to help him out. "I think, I mean naturally as one of the older drivers here, my door's always open if anyone ever has a questions or any advice that's needed," the seven-time world champion concluded.
In 2025, Hamilton will join Ferrari, which team's junior programme also supports Bearman. The Italians also have a close relationship with Haas, where Bearman can now develop racing a Formula One car. Should Hamilton choose to retire from Ferrari after 2026, Bearman could become a leading candidate to replace him, similarly to how Kimi Räikkönen was replaced by Charles Leclerc, after the Monegasque driver first joined Sauber.