F1 rookie backed for "big seat, fighting for wins" after impressive debut

Haas Formula 1 driver Oliver Bearman has been backed to be in a "big seat" and "fighting for wins" in a year or two by racing driver and pundit Sam Bird.

The Briton signed with Haas for the 2025 season after impressing on his F1 debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, when he stepped in at the last minute for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. While he has only scored 18 points, placing him 19th in the drivers' standings, Bird insisted that he is "good enough to race at the front".

"I give it a year, maybe two years, and he’ll be in a big seat, fighting for wins, fighting for podiums. He’s too good to be… he’s in my opinion, been much quicker than [Esteban] Ocon a lot of the time, especially in qualifying," Bird explained during the Singapore Grand Prix review on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast.

“OK, maybe sometimes some mistakes have crept in, but he’s proving that he’s good enough to race at the front of this Formula 1 grid. He came in with such high expectations after his late grand prix debut in Saudi Arabia, where Carlos Sainz could no longer race due to appendicitis, and I think that this year has been, he’s been really, really good to watch.

"If you look at all the rookies, I think Hadjar has been great, I think Bearman has been great, and those two have been the standout rookies for me. I know Antonelli has improved recently, but I wouldn’t say he stood out. Bearman and Hadjar, Bortoleto at times as well, those three have stood out."

The 20-year-old driver confirmed recently that his "goal in life" is to drive for the Ferrari F1 team, but acknowledged that in order to achieve this he needs to prove himself.

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

"Well, of course, that’s my goal in life. I got a taste of doing that when I got the call-up last year and that is my motivation in life, really, to hopefully one day be able to do that.

"But there’s a lot of steps in between and currently my career lies with Haas. I need to prove that I’m capable of, first of all, driving for a top team by doing more consistent performances here.

"So, of course, that’s my goal, but I need to prove myself, it’s not that simple."