Bearman signs Haas F1 deal and recalls Hamilton message

SILVERSTONE, England :Oliver Bearman will be Britain's fourth Formula One driver on the starting grid next season after the teenager signed a multi-year deal with Haas in what he said was a dream come true.

The Ferrari-backed 19-year-old, who was announced on Thursday ahead of his home grand prix at Silverstone, described it as a 'pinch yourself moment'.

He recalled also words of encouragement as a young karter from compatriot and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, the sport's most successful driver, who will be racing for Ferrari next year.

"I received a video from him in 2015 or 2016 saying like 'keep pushing and hopefully you can make it to F1 one day' and here I am," he told reporters.

"I think he met one of my mum's friends and she got him to make a video. It was the most amazing day of my life. I just actually got reminded of it yesterday, I saw the video again. It was a funny moment."

Bearman, who will race with the number 87, will be on track at Silverstone on Friday for first free practice before handing the Ferrari-powered car back to Kevin Magnussen for the rest of the weekend.

It will be the Formula Two driver's third such outing with the team in 2024.

The youngster made a memorable F1 race debut aged 18 with Ferrari in Saudi Arabia last March as stand-in for Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined by appendix surgery, and finished an impressive seventh.

YOUNGEST BRITON

That made him the third youngest racer in Formula One history, as well as the youngest Briton.

Next season he will race against Hamilton, McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes's George Russell as the sport's British contingent. Williams' Alex Albon is also British-born but races under the Thai flag.

"It's crazy to share this track with these guys