Haas confirm Fittipaldi and Bearman as reserve drivers for 2024 season

Pietro Fittipaldi and Oliver Bearman have been named as Haas’s reserve drivers for the upcoming F1 season, providing back-up to regular racers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

Brazilian-American driver Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time world champion Emerson, has represented Haas since 2018, initially carrying out test duties before stepping up to reserve.

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He also has two F1 starts to his name with the US-led operation, having replaced Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix following the Frenchman’s fiery crash in Bahrain.

A former Formula Renault, MRF Challenge and World Series Formula V8 3.5 champion, the 27-year-old is preparing to embark on a full campaign in the IndyCar series in 2024, racing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Bearman, meanwhile, is backed by Haas’s power unit partner, Ferrari, where he will hold similar reserve duties for 2024 after impressing in his rookie F2 season.

The 18-year-old British racer bagged four race victories and six podium finishes on his way to sixth in the standings and will continue with Prema Racing for his sophomore year.

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Bearman, who also took part in FP1 with Haas in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season, was back in action for Ferrari earlier this week when he took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya aboard the 2022-specification F1-75 as part of a Pirelli tyre test.

“I’m happy and proud to be going into my sixth season with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team,” stated Fittipaldi. “I’m looking forward to continuing our work in development and supporting the team in the best way I can throughout the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.”

Bearman added: “I’m really happy to be part of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for the upcoming season. I had a great experience last year working with everyone at the team and I’m looking forward to building on that this year.

“There are several events I’ll be doing FP1s at – alongside the reserve duties, which is exciting. I’m grateful to Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari for their faith and for supporting me.”

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New Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, who has replaced Guenther Steiner in the role, added: “I’m pleased to have both Oliver Bearman and Pietro Fittipaldi as our reserve drivers.

“Oliver did a tremendous job for us last season settling in well and working through both his FP1 run programs in Mexico and Abu Dhabi and then with his test program.

“We’re looking forward to giving him the opportunity for more outings in FP1 in 2024 – with testing at a premium this is key running time, both for us to evaluate Oliver’s progress but also to enable him seat time in a Formula 1 car.

“Having Pietro with us for a sixth season is valuable as he again provides continuity and he’s been a great contributor to our program over the years – both on and off-track.

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“We’re excited he’s landed a full-time IndyCar ride this season, so he can do what he loves to do – and that’s to race, but he’s there for us too as part of the Haas family.”