Ferrari have announced British teenager Oliver Bearman as one of their reserve drivers for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
At the age of 18, Bearman became a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2021 and made his debut in an F1 practice session in 2023 while driving for Haas in Mexico City. He later returned to the cockpit for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In the upcoming season, Bearman will share the role of Ferrari's reserve driver with Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Shwartzman. This trio will be available to provide support or step in for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz when needed.
"Oliver Bearman, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy student currently racing in Formula 2 with the Prema team, will also take on the role of Reserve Driver, ready to step in if a race driver is incapacitated, a role he will share with Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Shwartzman," Ferrari said in a statement on Saturday.
"These last two are also taking part in the WEC (World Endurance Championship) at the wheel of the Ferrari 499 P Hypercar, numbers 51 and 83 respectively."
Bearman, who will also compete in a second Formula 2 season for Prema Racing in 2024, concluded his inaugural campaign in the feeder series last year with a sixth-place finish. He secured victories in three feature races and one sprint race.
During the 2022 Formula 3 season with Prema, Bearman secured a third-place finish in the championship.
Ferrari have additionally confirmed that Arthur Leclerc, the younger sibling of Charles, will assume the role of one of the team's development drivers.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of Ferrari extending Charles Leclerc's contract, which was originally set to expire at the end of 2024.
The future of Carlos Sainz with the team remains uncertain, as discussions are reportedly ongoing regarding an extension to his current contract, which is also set to conclude at the end of the upcoming campaign.
The Italian team stated that both Bearman and Arthur Leclerc will join Charles Leclerc and Sainz in a three-day tyre testing session for Pirelli in Barcelona next week.
"On 29 and 30 January Charles and Carlos will be at the wheel of last year's SF23, carrying out tests for the sport's sole tyre supplier," Ferrari said.
"Also on the 29th, Arthur Leclerc will get his very first taste of driving a Formula 1 car, from the cockpit of the 2022 F1-75. On Tuesday 30th, Charles and Carlos will share both the SF23 and the F1-75, while on 31st Oliver Bearman will be alone on track in the F1-75."