‘Major potential to blow up’ – F1 team ‘worried about drivers’ with ability of British star predicted to cause ‘trouble’

ONE Formula One team has huge potential to “blow up” this season after a host of driver changes across the grid.

Only McLaren and Aston Martin have retained the same driver lineup from the 2024 grid to this season.

PAOllie Bearman could be part of an F1 team that ‘blows up’ this season[/caption]

RexOne journalist believes Esteban Ocon could be a disruptive presence[/caption]

But according to F1 journalist Ben Anderson, Haas in particular could be facing a rocky road ahead.

That is because he believes Esteban Ocon, who moved to the team from Alpine, could clash with British rookie Ollie Bearman.

Bearman, 19, raced in three F1 races last season, replacing Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and later Kevin Magnussen in two races at Haas.

However, it is believed that Ocon’s less-than glittering record in getting on with team-mates could cause an “explosion” at the team.

Speaking on The Race F1 Extra podcast, he said: “Bearman and Ocon, definitely has major potential I think to blow up.

“Pretty much because of Ocon’s long history of not getting on that well with his team-mates.

“I think Bearman is a really exciting talent, someone who probably will end up replacing Lewis [Hamilton] at Ferrari in the future, has some edge to him and I suspect will be quick enough to give Ocon some serious trouble.

“And I think at that point it becomes all about how Ocon reacts and history suggests that he won’t react that well to being given trouble by his team-mate.

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“And I think already Haas are kind of a bit worried about that aspect so I imagine Ayao Komatsu will be big on rules of engagement for his drivers going into this season.”

Ocon, 28, previously had bad blood with Pierre Gasly, but seemed to have put any issues under the bridge while the pair were at Alpine.

The Frenchman had also not seen eye-to-eye with Fernando Alonso when they publicly fell out when he was his team-mate prior to Gasly.

Following the move in 2023, Ocon said: “I was disappointed by Fernando [Alonso]’s comments that came out in the press and internally.

“We didn’t really have a discussion, within the team, about all that. I think it’s good that he’s leaving [for Aston Martin] and that we do our part as we should.”

Alonso later called Ocon “immature” after their collision at the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix.

The 2025 season kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix in March.