Hulkenberg's Haas exit opens door for the next British F1 star

Why has Hulkenberg left Haas?

Hulkenberg has signed a multi-year contract with the team which will become the Audi works team in 2026. The 36-year-old will be hoping to become a contender when Audi takes over Sauber. Consistent success has continued to elude him throughout his F1 career, and Hulkenberg is yet to finish on an F1 podium. Despite this, he has always been recognised as a highly talented driver without the right equipment underneath him. Audi will get an experienced German driver to join their F1 project. 

Who can replace him at Haas?

Haas' current driver lineup, consisting of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, is very experienced. They have 377 Grand Prix starts between them, and Haas values this. The American team struggled with rookie drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher in 2021, and will not want to relive that torrid season where they scored zero points. After another lacklustre year for Schumacher in 2022, Hulkenberg swiftly replaced him in 2023, with the team valuing experience over youth.

Despite this, 18-year-old Oliver Bearman looks set to join Haas next year. His stunning performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix put the four-time F2 winner firmly on the map. The next logical step seems to be the seat at Haas.

Who is Bearman?

Oliver Bearman is an 18-year-old Formula 2 driver for Prema. The young Brit is a Ferrari academy driver and won four races in his first year in F2 in 2023. He secured a stunning sprint and feature race victory in Baku and is still a firm favourite for the title this year. He will also be taking part in six FP1 sessions for Haas this season, who have a close technical relationship with his parent team, Ferrari. Joining Haas will allow Bearman to gain experience in the sport in a familiar environment.

When GPblog spoke exclusively to Bearman in Bahrain, he said that he was ready to drive in Formula 1. Even before his appearance in Saudi Arabia, the Brit was itching for an opportunity. 

"Step one is driving F1. I'm going to be doing a lot of that this year. Not only in free practice but hopefully also in private testing. It's really important to be ready once the opportunity comes. It could even come earlier since I'm a reserve this year. Anything could happen. So I need to be ready at all times. So, this testing and driving is going to help me. I feel like every time I get into the car, I get up to speed faster. I get confidence more quickly. That's obviously a good sign that I'm learning."

Bearman is already comfortable with Haas and would fit in perfectly. It seems like a no-brainer for Ayao Komatsu and Gene Haas, who are yet to formally announce their decision. 

"They seem pretty complimentary, let's say. So that's a good sign. They obviously have shown faith in me by giving me six FP1s. That's a nice feeling. I’m looking forward to building up confidence and a relationship with the team because it's a great bunch of guys. I feel like I know them really well now. So it's good."