Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari was one of the crucial iconic moments of the winter season, together with his first day at Maranello producing essentially the most appreciated picture in System 1 historical past on Instagram. For Oliver Bearman, a younger expertise of the Ferrari Driver Academy and now a Haas driver for the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello was a rare occasion, vastly totally different from his personal first expertise with the Prancing Horse.
When Hamilton walked by Ferrari’s gates in January, he was welcomed with nice enthusiasm. Wearing a sublime black swimsuit and an extended coat, the seven-time world champion was photographed in entrance of Enzo Ferrari’s historic home, subsequent to his favourite supercar, the Ferrari F40.
Ollie Bearman: “I Can’t Think about What Hamilton Felt”
Throughout that day, Hamilton shook tons of of arms, introducing himself to the women and men of the Scuderia who can be chargeable for offering him with a aggressive automobile to chase his eighth world title. For Oliver Bearman, becoming a member of Ferrari was a very totally different expertise.
The British driver, who will make his System 1 debut with Haas this 12 months, shared his first impressions: “I spent plenty of time there. I didn’t shake everybody’s hand—I don’t race for them in System 1.” Talking in regards to the manufacturing facility’s dimension, Oliver Bearman added: “It’s an enormous, unbelievable facility. I can solely think about Hamilton had a really lengthy day.”
Reflecting on his first day at Maranello, he recalled: “On my first day, I used to be only a 15-year-old F4 driver. Strolling into an F1 manufacturing facility for the primary time was loopy. I used to be impressed by the size of the operation and the variety of individuals.”
Oliver Bearman Following in Hamilton’s Footsteps
Oliver Bearman already bought a style of System 1 final 12 months, stepping in for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia because of an appendectomy and later racing for Haas in Azerbaijan and São Paulo. The younger Brit has clear objectives for the long run, whereas acknowledging Lewis Hamilton’s greatness: “Nobody has ever emulated Lewis, so I don’t anticipate to, as a result of nobody has managed to.”
Nevertheless, his ambition stays sturdy: “My dream is to develop into world champion, and that’s what will get me off the bed each morning.” Whereas targeted on his new Ferrari journey, Lewis Hamilton has been approachable with the Ferrari junior, having shared the grid with him thrice final 12 months.
“Each time I see him, he’s all the time tremendous variety and accessible. It’s nice to share experiences with him. After all, he has plenty of expertise, however he’s merely a improbable individual, and I get pleasure from speaking to him.” Whereas there hasn’t been a serious alternate of technical recommendation, Oliver Bearman has nonetheless appreciated Hamilton’s constructive angle towards younger drivers: “There hasn’t been an enormous alternate of recommendation, however he simply informed me, ‘Go for it.’”
The younger Brit concluded by emphasizing how vital it’s to have a System 1 icon supporting the brand new era of drivers: “Hamilton is all the time very supportive of all of the rookies, and it’s a extremely constructive feeling.”
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