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A new signing for the 2025 Formula 1 season has expressed frustration after being excluded from a crucial post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test, despite his promising performance earlier in the year. The driver in question is 19-year-old British sensation Oliver Bearman, who had a standout debut season in 2024, making appearances for both Ferrari and Haas during the year. However, his exclusion from the Abu Dhabi post-season tyre test has left him disappointed.
The 2025 F1 grid will see significant changes, with several teams opting to introduce younger talent to their line-ups. One of the most notable changes was Lewis Hamilton’s surprising move to Ferrari, which has led to a reshuffling across the grid. As a result, various teams have recruited fresh, young drivers, with Sauber selecting Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, Mercedes replacing Hamilton with 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, Alpine hiring 21-year-old Jack Doohan, and Haas promoting Bearman to a full-time seat for 2025. Alongside him at Haas will be Esteban Ocon, who was dropped by Alpine.
Bearman’s 2024 season was marked by several key moments. He made his F1 debut for Ferrari in place of Carlos Sainz during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, showcasing his potential on the big stage. He then substituted for Kevin Magnussen at Haas during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when Magnussen was hit with a race ban. Despite these successful outings, Bearman was excluded from participating in the post-season tyre test at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
While other drivers, including several of the new 2025 signings, took part in the test, Haas chose to field Ryo Hirakawa and Ocon in their cars instead of Bearman. The reason given was that Bearman did not qualify as a ‘rookie driver,’ having raced in three F1 events during 2024. This decision left Bearman frustrated, particularly as it appeared to contradict past practices. Bearman pointed to the 2020 young driver’s test, where Alpine had allowed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to take part, despite his extensive F1 experience and two world titles.
Bearman questioned the fairness of this decision, highlighting the contrast between his own brief but successful stint in F1 and Alonso’s far more decorated career. “If we go back a few years, Alonso did the rookie test after having won two world championships,” Bearman remarked to Marca. “I’ve only done two races, I’ve scored points twice, and he has two world championships, but he was able to do the rookie test.” His frustration stemmed from the apparent inconsistency in the application of the rules, which allowed a highly experienced driver like Alonso to participate in a test typically reserved for rookies.
Despite the setback, Bearman’s future in F1 remains bright. The young driver has already shown his talent in limited opportunities and will now have a full-time seat with Haas alongside Ocon for the 2025 season. His performance in 2024 has been impressive, and he is expected to develop further in the coming years. However, the exclusion from the Abu Dhabi test serves as a reminder of the sometimes unpredictable and frustrating nature of the sport, especially for emerging talents trying to make their mark in Formula 1.
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