18-year-old driver who starred in Mexico free practice confirms he won’t be in F1 next year

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Ferrari academy driver Ollie Bearman has confirmed that he won’t be driving in F1 in 2024 after taking part in free practice for the first time.

The 18-year-old was speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of qualifying at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Every driver is required to give up their seat in one FP1 session each season to a rookie looking to earn experience in Formula 1.

With just a few races left, Mexico was chosen by half the teams on the grid to give young drivers in their academies an opportunity to impress.

A quintet of Formula 2 drivers were therefore seen on track on Friday including championship leader Theo Pourchaire (Alfa Romeo), although the young Frenchman only managed four laps.

He was joined on track by Isack Hadjar (AlphaTauri), Jack Doohan (Alpine) and Frederick Vesti (Mercedes).

Ollie Bearman led the group in Kevin Magnussen’s Haas car, finishing ahead of Fernando Alonso after 31 laps and narrowly being beaten by Logan Sargeant.

Despite an impressive debut, Bearman confirmed he wouldn’t be in F1 in 2024.

With only one seat left to fill, it’s not a surprise that the Ferrari-linked driver has other plans for next year.

He’ll be encouraged that plans are already being considered to get him into the sport one day.

Bearman won’t be F1 in 2024

Asked about his immediate future, the British youngster said: “Yeah, of course, F1 is the next step but it’s a bit more difficult than the previous ones.

“I won’t be in F1 next year, I will be in F2 again, it’s quite sure.

“And the goal is clear, second year in F2, you know, I have to win it. Hopefully, I can do enough job to finish in this paddock one day.”

Bearman may be aiming to win F2 and not F1 in 2024, but that’s still no guarantee of getting a seat in the highest level of Formula racing.

Felipe Drugovich won the championship in 2022 but is still Aston Martin’s test driver and is waiting for either a two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll to leave the team.

This season’s expected winner Pourchaire is likely to suffer the same fate at Alfa Romeo.

Bearman will hope his ties with Ferrari and their subsequent ties with Haas will hand him the chance to get onto the grid.

However, he still needs to win the title next season which will be easier said than done.