Ollie Bearman’s promotion to Haas for the 2025 Formula 1 season has underscored the harsh realities faced by Formula 2 drivers trying to ascend the single-seater ladder. Despite sitting 15th in the 2024 F2 standings, Bearman, a Ferrari junior, has secured an F1 seat thanks to his standout performances in the junior categories and an impressive substitute appearance for Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Bearman’s promotion is a dream come true for the young British driver, but it also serves as a stark reminder of how challenging and, at times, unfair the path to Formula 1 can be for others in the F2 grid. Of the 14 drivers ahead of Bearman in the standings, only his highly-rated Prema teammate, Kimi Antonelli, appears to have a clear path to F1, with a possible 2025 debut under Mercedes’ wing.
Antonelli, who impressed in Formula 4 and won the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) in 2023, has shown flashes of brilliance in his F2 rookie season, despite Prema’s struggles with the new 2024 car. His performances, including race wins at Silverstone and the Hungaroring, have kept him on the radar for an F1 seat.
However, as attention increasingly shifts to Antonelli and Bearman, many other talented F2 drivers are being overlooked. One such driver is Joshua Duerksen, who, despite a strong start to his F2 career, feels overshadowed. Duerksen, who lacks affiliation with an F1 junior team, has been operating on a lean budget and has struggled to attract the same level of attention as his better-connected peers.
Similarly, former Mercedes junior Paul Aron and MP Motorsport’s Dennis Hauger, both of whom are unaffiliated with F1 teams, have voiced their frustrations at being sidelined. Aron, who led the F2 championship earlier in the season, has seen his title hopes fade after a series of difficult races. Hauger, a former Red Bull junior, is still waiting for his first opportunity in an F1 car, a stark contrast to his Williams-backed teammate Franco Colapinto, who made his FP1 debut at Silverstone.
The disparity in opportunities highlights the crucial role that F1 team affiliations play in a driver’s progression. While Bearman’s path to F1 has been eased by his ties to Ferrari, others on the grid, despite strong performances, face an uphill battle to break into the sport.
Bearman’s 2024 F2 season has been far from flawless, with a solitary sprint race win in Austria and notable struggles with consistency and racecraft. His collision with Red Bull junior Pepe Marti at Spa, resulting in a five-place grid penalty, is a reminder that his journey has not been without setbacks. Yet, Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur remains confident that Bearman’s continued participation in F2 will be invaluable preparation for his F1 debut, dismissing suggestions of pulling him out early.
As Bearman prepares for his F1 debut, the rest of the F2 grid, apart from Antonelli, must continue to fight for recognition. For most, the road to F1 remains a daunting one, with the odds heavily stacked against them. In a sport where connections often outweigh pure talent, the reality is that many deserving drivers may never get their shot at the top tier.
Photo from Ollie Bearman Instagram
