Steiner Claims He Would Put Bearman 'In Race Seat' Based On His Performance

Friday, 15 March 2024 at 20:05

Updated at Friday, 15 March 2024 at 21:23

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner, who has become a columnist for the official F1 page, wrote that he would find Oliver Bearman a seat after his recent showing.

Guenther Steiner was the team principal of the Haas F1 team for eight years before departing ahead of this year's 2024 season. The 58-year-old had already worked with Bearman.

The British teenager was given two practice sessions with Haas during the 2023 season, and it was already said that he impressed the team.

Read also

Hamilton Doesn't Have Qualities 'That Verstappen Has' According To Schumacher

Following the weekend during which the 18-year-old got his first shot at an F1 Grand Prix race and scored a P7, Steiner suggested he wouldn't hesitate to find a seat for him.

"Based on his performance in Jeddah, after what I saw from him at Haas, I'd put him in a race seat. Obviously, it depends on the circumstances and what seats are available. You need to see the whole landscape, but he would be a candidate."

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu already confirmed that Bearman is on his radar. However, he also said that his current drivers showed such a strong performance in Jeddah that he would still prefer them after the season's second race.

Nevertheless, Steiner believes the 18-year-old is in a "good place" after his performance at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and suggests he might have more than one option.

"He's in a good place as at the end of this year, there are a lot of contracts up with drivers, so he can put himself in good a position. He can't go anywhere he wants, but I believe there is more than one opportunity for him."

"I think a lot of teams will proactively look at him now after his performance last weekend. If I see the potential, other people will see it as well, so I think there is a good possibility for him to get a seat next year."