'Don't Start To Talk About After Hamilton!': Vasseur Shuts Down Early Speculations
F1Friday, 15 March 2024 at 13:30
During one of his interviews, the Scuderia Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur, quickly ended the discussion about Hamilton's potential replacement at Ferrari.
By scoring a P7 during the first F1 race in his career as the third youngest F1 driver ever in F1, Oliver Bearman made a very good name for himself in the paddock.
The 18-year-old was already on Ferrari and Haas' radar. However, following his performance in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, his chances of getting a seat in F1 skyrocketed.
Some already suggest he will get a place in Haas next year and then replace Lewis Hamilton in Scuderia after the end of 2026. Vasseur, on the other hand, didn't want to hear anything about that as he shut down the talks in his recent interview:
"Don't start to speak about after Lewis Hamilton, Lewis is still not in the team!"
Hamilton hasn't even started racing for Ferrari, and it probably surprised the Frenchman that people had already found a replacement for the seven-time World Champion.
On the contrary, Vasseur acknowledged that Bearman's performance under immense pressure was very important. He also suggested that the 18-year-old must prove himself further in F2.
"But it's a good signal for Ollie for sure, that was an important milestone. In Melbourne he will be back on the F2 project, and the most important challenge for Ollie will be this one."
"He will start soon the FP1 sessions with Haas, and this will be important also for us to give him experience and mileage in the car. But for sure with this one [Jeddah] he has the result in the pocket already."
According to the words of the Haas team principal, Ayao Komatsu, the American team has scheduled six practice sessions throughout the season for the British teenager. These will give him the experience he will need should he get a seat in F1 next year.
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