Ayao Komatsu shares how he’s preparing Ollie Bearman for debut F1 season as he stresses two new drivers won’t hold Haas back

Ayao Komatsu has described Ollie Bearman’s preparations for his first full season in Formula 1 as “already quite advanced”, with the British youngster settling into the Haas environment on and off the track.

Ferrari-backed Bearman, who wowed the paddock during a stand-in performance for the Scuderia at this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, is gearing up to make the move from F2 to F1 with Haas in 2025.

Either side of that eye-catching performance, the former Italian and ADAC F4 champion has been amassing FP1 mileage in the US-led team’s machinery, initially appearing in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season before runs in Imola, Spain, Britain and Hungary through 2024.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 19: Oliver Bearman of Great Britain driving the (50) Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari — Bearman has taken part in several FP1 sessions with Haas this season

Bearman was set to make two more practice appearances over the second half of the campaign, but there will be another bonus chance to race at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after regular Haas driver Kevin Magnussen picked up a race ban.

Speaking before that development, Haas team boss Komatsu outlined what’s to come for Bearman – who will be one of at least three rookies on the 2025 grid alongside Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Alpine’s Jack Doohan.

“We defined Ollie’s FP1 programme before the start of the season, so he’s got more FP1 sessions,” Komatsu confirmed. “He’s doing some simulator sessions with us as well.

“Also, we’ve been working closely with him for some time. He knows who we are, he knows how we operate, so in that sense we are already quite advanced in terms of preparation – he just cannot wait to get started properly.”

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With Bearman to be partnered by outgoing Alpine driver Esteban Ocon in an all-new Haas line-up – replacing Kevin Magnussen and Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg – Komatsu brushed aside any concerns over a lack of continuity behind the wheel.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Next year’s car is obviously a continuous development of this year’s car. We value both Nico and Kevin’s feedback on this year’s car, which will translate into next year’s car.

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“Of course, Esteban has been racing this generation of cars and I think he will, if anything, add [a new] dimension to that, so I really don’t think there’s going to be any setback for the first few races.”