Damon Hill and Jenson Button loved news Ferrari have just announced about their 18-year-old driver

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Former Formula 1 world champions Damon Hill and Jenson Button have reacted to Ferrari announcing Ollie Bearman as their new reserve driver.

It looks set to be a huge year for the 18-year-old driver with Ferrari putting their faith in the talented teenager.

Ferrari confirmed in a statement yesterday that the young Brit would be taking on the role of reserve driver for the team during 2024.

It means that in the event that Carlos Sainz or the newly signed up Charles Leclerc cannot race for whatever reason, Ollie Bearman will step up to make his Formula 1 debut.

He shares the role with Robert Schwartzman and Antonio Giovanazzi, but giving Bearman as much F1 experience as possible looks to be the team’s aim.

The teenager took part in his first Formula 1 test last year and starred in free practice in Mexico and Abu Dhabi.

He’s been working in Haas’s simulator over the winter and even those at Mercedes have been impressed by his rise through the junior formulas.

Damon Hill and Jenson Button have now both reacted to the news that Bearman has earned a promotion within Ferrari.

They’ll be hoping he has a strong campaign in Formula 2 as that will set him up to take the next step in his career.

That would be to find a permanent seat on the F1 grid and they’ve already potentially earmarked a car for him.

Button and Hill react to Bearman’s new role at Ferrari

Sky Sports F1 posted on Instagram on Saturday confirming that Bearman would serve as backup to Leclerc and Sainz in 2024.

Both Hill and Button liked the post, as well as Bearman, suggesting they’re both keen to see more of the 18-year-old.

After his free practice session in Mexico last year, Bearman admitted he was a big fan of Button and grew up watching the 2009 F1 champion.

Ferrari are already making plans for beyond 2024, with a move to Haas potentially on the cards.

The partnership between the two teams could off the young Brit an opportunity to get onto the grid, even if it’s with one of last year’s back markers.

He’s one of the favourites to win F2 this year, although as Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire will tell you, that doesn’t guarantee you anything in Formula 1.