Esteban Ocon to join British teenage sensation Ollie Bearman at Haas next season, as Frenchman signs multi-year deal to confirm his departure from Alpine

Oliver Bearman’s team-mate for his debut season in Formula One will be Esteban Ocon after the French driver announced he was joining Haas for the 2025 season.

Ocon, 27, announced his decision ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix after confirming he was leaving Alpine at the end of the season last month.

He will join forces with 19-year-old Bearman, who will become the fourth Brit on the grid next season, in an all-new driver lineup for the US-based outfit in 2025.

‘I spoke to him (Bearman) in Budapest. That’s the first time we’ve met,’ said Ocon, whose only Grand Prix win came in Hungary three years ago.

‘He is a very young, exciting prospect in Formula One, many people are saying that he’s going to be a future world champion.

‘I can’t wait to be teaming up with him. He’s bringing fresh blood and new ideas to the team like I’m also going to try to add.

‘I’m sure our collaboration is going to be great to take this team forward.’

Bearman earned his first drive in Formula One after producing an impressive seventh-place finish for Ferrari as a late replacement for Carlos Sainz at this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Upon signing his multi-year deal with Haas earlier this month, Bearman said: ‘It's hard to put into words just how much this means to me.

‘To say out loud that I will be an F1 driver for Haas makes me so immensely proud.

‘To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing that they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible.’