Bearman hoping Antonelli joins him on F1 grid as he sets out dream scenario for the pair

Ollie Bearman has no doubt that F2 team mate Kimi Antonelli “deserves” to be on the F1 grid alongside him next year, with the British teenager hopeful they will one day be battling each other for the title in the top echelon.

It was recently announced that Bearman will be making his full-time F1 debut with Haas in 2025, having caught the eye throughout his junior career and starring during his stand-in F1 performance for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia earlier this season.

READ MORE: F2 star Ollie Bearman promoted to F1 with Haas for 2025

Antonelli, who is currently racing alongside Bearman at PREMA in F2, has also been tipped for a promotion in the near future, with backers Mercedes impressed by his handling of a rapid ascent up the motorsport ranks and recent tests in F1 machinery.

Speaking about the 17-year-old Italian’s prospects in an interview with Sky Sports F1, Bearman said: “We’ve always been following each other and stepping up around the same time. I’ve known Kimi for a long time, we raced each other a little bit in F4, a lot on the simulator, now we’re team-mates in F2.

“I hope for him that he will be in F1 as well because he deserves it. One day I hope to fight for a world championship with him because I think that’s the trajectory that we’re both aiming for.”

While it remains to be seen what happens with Antonelli, and whether he ends up at the Silver Arrows alongside incumbent George Russell, what’s for certain is that Bearman will partner Esteban Ocon at Haas next season.

READ MORE: Who is Andrea Kimi Antonelli – and why is he such a hot topic in the paddock?

Following on from his superb points finish in place of the unwell Carlos Sainz at Jeddah back in March, it marks the next step in his quest to one day reach the very top of the sport – which he dreams of doing so in the red of Ferrari.

“I think Ferrari is one of the most iconic brands in the world, of course within racing and F1,” Bearman said of the Scuderia, who will field Charles Leclerc and new signing Lewis Hamilton from 2025. “If you draw a car, it’s red. It’s a brand that’s synonymous with racing, with victory, with success and with fantastic drivers as well.

“First of all, to have made my debut with Ferrari, that hasn’t happened for a very long time, and the fact that I became the youngest Ferrari driver was something very special for me.

“Of course, I want to win world championships, and to do that with Ferrari is my dream. They’ve been supporting me since 2021. They’ve seen something from me early on. They decided to trust in me, and even just to put me behind the wheel in Jeddah was a big risk from Ferrari’s side.

“That shows that they believe in me, that they trust in my capability, and of course one day I would love to win a championship, especially with Ferrari.”

READ MORE: Antonelli offers honest assessment over F1 promotion chances as he admits ‘I don’t know if I’d be ready’

After 10 of this year’s 14 scheduled F2 rounds, Antonelli leads the intra-team battle at PREMA by sitting seventh in the standings, with Bearman – having missed that Saudi Arabian event – holding 15th position.

Both drivers have reached the top step of the podium across the 20 races held so far, with Bearman winning the Sprint at the Red Bull Ring and Antonelli winning the Sprint at Silverstone and Feature at the Hungaroring.