British driver added to F1 roster for 2024

Teenage sensation Oliver Bearman has been announced as a Ferrari reserve driver for the 2024 season, ready to step in for Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz when needed.

The Brit joins Robert Schwartzman and former Sauber and Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi, both of whom are also competing in the Hypercar class with AF Corse.

The 18-year-old has had a largely successful junior career, winning the Italian F4 Championship and the ADAC Formula 4 Championship[ in 2021 and finishing third in F3 a year later with Prema Racing.

Bearman joins Ferrari ranks

Bearman competed in his first season in F2, again with Prema, last year where he finished sixth, grabbing four wins and a total of six podiums.

He will stay with Prema for the 2024 season and will be present with Ferrari when the F2 calendar comes on the support programme for F1.

Bearman had two FP1 appearances with Haas in 2023 at Mexico City and Abu Dhabi and also drove the VF-23 in the young drivers’ test at the end of the season.

The teenager joins Ferrari alongside Arthur Leclerc, who links up with brother Charles as a development driver and will spend most of his time in the simulator whilst also competing in the Italian GT Championship.

Bearman took to the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on Wednesday in the 2022 F1-75 as part of a three-day Pirelli test along with the Leclerc brothers and Sainz.

READ MORE: F1 Schedule 2024: Full calendar with all you need to know about every grand prix

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