21 January 2026GP BlogDriver Ratings
Thomas Bearman signs with Van Amersfoort Racing for 2026 multi‑series campaign
Sixteen‑year‑old Thomas Bearman, brother of Haas driver Oliver, has joined Van Amersfoort Racing for 2026. He’ll race in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 and E4 after his British F4 podium.
Thomas Bearman, 16, the younger brother of Haas F1 driver Oliver Bearman, has signed with Van Amersfoort Racing for 2026. He will race in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 and the E4 Championship as part of his junior development. The move follows a podium finish in British F4 with Hitech TGR in 2025.
Why it matters:
- Van Amersfoort’s investment signals confidence in Bearman’s pace and marketability.
- The Bearman name links a rising junior with an F1 driver, boosting sponsor appeal.
- Success in Italy could fast‑track him toward Formula 3 and eventually F1.
The details:
- Signing: VAR confirmed Bearman will run in Formula Winter, Italian F4 and E4 for 2026.
- 2025: He earned a British F4 podium with Hitech TGR, his first full‑season campaign.
- Family link: Oliver Bearman helped launch Haas’s VF‑26 at the 2026 reveal, raising the younger Bearman’s profile.
What's next:
- He starts the season in the Formula Winter Series, a short‑format opener before the Italian F4 calendar.
- Strong results could earn him a Formula 3 seat in 2027 and keep the Bearman name in F1 conversations.