From 2025, Haas will formally welcome Oliver Bearman, who will crew up with newcomer Esteban Ocon. The younger English driver has already made headlines this 12 months with three appearances—one in Jeddah with Ferrari, probably the weekend that definitively satisfied the American crew, and two with Haas at Baku and Interlagos. Ollie Bearman mirrored on his 2024 season, throughout which he additionally competed in F2, mentioned his relationship with Kimi Antonelli, and shared his expectations for 2025.
Bearman: “Debuting with Ferrari accelerated all the things; I dream of returning”
In an interview with the Italian every day newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Oliver Bearman revisited his debut with Ferrari. The 2005-born driver was known as up by Fred Vasseur on Saturday morning, simply earlier than FP3, after Carlos Sainz withdrew as a consequence of appendicitis: “I didn’t have a lot time to get nervous as a result of I used to be busy studying as a lot as potential, however I’d say what I felt in that second was fairly stunning. Worry is one of the best phrase to explain what I skilled. What occurred sped up the method and gave me the prospect to point out what I’m able to.”
In 2025, Oliver Bearman will lastly have a everlasting seat, permitting him to focus solely on a single championship, in contrast to 2024 when he additionally competed in F2. Right here’s what he needed to say in regards to the upcoming 12 months: “I can’t wait to face the challenges forward and eventually measure myself in opposition to a few of the finest on the earth. The journey and workload will enhance considerably, so my life will turn into extra hectic and sophisticated, however I’m trying ahead to it.” His final dream is clearly to return to the crew he has been related to since 2021—Ferrari—as a successor to Lewis Hamilton: “Rising and racing for Ferrari has been the best satisfaction of my profession. I hope to put on the purple once more very quickly.”
From F4 to F1: the bond between Ollie Bearman and Kimi Antonelli
Through the years, Oliver has battled on monitor with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will be part of Mercedes subsequent season. The 2 first competed in a Components sequence in August 2021 in Italian F4, with a extremely action-packed and aggressive weekend at Monza. This 12 months, Ollie Bearman reunited with the 2006-born driver as teammates in F2, outperforming him in most weekends: “Kimi is a really quick driver, that’s for positive. He’s additionally man; I take into account him a pricey buddy, and I’m joyful we’ll be collectively in F1.”
Oliver Bearman: “Large variations between F2 and F1”
Usually, when competing in junior classes, drivers solely study in regards to the subsequent step on the final second. Nevertheless, this 12 months, the announcement of Ollie Bearman’s transfer to Haas got here early, permitting him to organize totally. Talking on the Pirelli podcast ‘Field Field,’ he shared: “In some methods, it’s a fantastic feeling—it places a whole lot of strain in your shoulders. However, I’m already keen to leap into subsequent season. This 12 months, I labored arduous to make sure I’d be prepared when the chance got here, however I’m impatient. I can’t look forward to the primary race in Australia.”
All through the 2024 Components 1 season, Ollie Bearman participated in a number of free follow periods and competed in three races, some coinciding with Components 2 occasions. The Ferrari driver highlighted the important thing variations between the 2 forms of vehicles: “Firstly, the driving conduct is totally completely different, which made issues a bit more durable for me. I really feel extra pure in F1; I have a tendency to seek out the restrict extra rapidly in comparison with F2. Once I get behind the wheel of an F1 automobile, I really feel ‘at dwelling’ as a result of I feel my driving type fits the sort of automobile a lot better. My strategy to hitting the apex pays off extra when it comes to lap time in F1 than in F2. In F2, I make extra errors and don’t really feel pure—even in nice positions, I don’t really feel totally assured with the automobile.”
The variations are additionally evident throughout the groups: “The very first thing you discover is the personnel. In F1, there are such a lot of individuals, whereas in F2, as an illustration, your entire crew handles pit stops. In F1, I meet new individuals on a regular basis—I really wrestle to recollect everybody’s names. At Ferrari, it’s simpler as a result of everybody’s title is on their shirt. In F1, there’s extra consideration to element; there’s a devoted group for every particular position. There’s somebody specializing in begins, somebody analyzing your driving, and somebody dealing with tires. The variations on monitor are minimal; this 12 months, the gaps in qualifying among the many prime 5 have been extremely shut.” – the Ferrari junior concluded.
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