From 2025, Haas will formally welcome Oliver Bearman, who will staff up with newcomer Esteban Ocon. The younger English driver has already made headlines this 12 months with three appearances—one in Jeddah with Ferrari, doubtless the weekend that definitively satisfied the American staff, 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 every little thing; I dream of returning”
In an interview with the Italian day by day newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Oliver Bearman revisited his debut with Ferrari. The 2005-born driver was referred to as up by Fred Vasseur on Saturday morning, simply earlier than FP3, after Carlos Sainz withdrew attributable to 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 doable, however I’d say what I felt in that second was fairly stunning. Worry is the most effective phrase to explain what I skilled. What occurred sped up the method and gave me the prospect to indicate what I’m able to.”
In 2025, Oliver Bearman will lastly have a everlasting seat, permitting him to focus solely on a single championship, not like 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 at last measure myself in opposition to a few of the finest on the planet. The journey and workload will enhance considerably, so my life will change into extra hectic and sophisticated, however I’m trying ahead to it.” His final dream is clearly to return to the staff he has been related to since 2021—Ferrari—as a successor to Lewis Hamilton: “Rising and racing for Ferrari has been the best delight 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
Over time, Oliver has battled on monitor with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will be part of Mercedes subsequent season. The 2 first competed in a Method collection 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 certain. He’s additionally an excellent man; I contemplate him an expensive pal, and I’m comfortable 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 arrange totally. Talking on the Pirelli podcast ‘Field Field,’ he shared: “In some methods, it’s an incredible feeling—it places numerous strain in your shoulders. Alternatively, I’m already keen to leap into subsequent season. This 12 months, I labored onerous 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 Method 1 season, Ollie Bearman participated in a number of free apply periods and competed in three races, some coinciding with Method 2 occasions. The Ferrari driver highlighted the important thing variations between the 2 kinds of automobiles: “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 search 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 believe my driving fashion fits this sort of automobile a lot better. My strategy to hitting the apex pays off extra by way of 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 completely 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 example, your complete staff handles pit stops. In F1, I meet new individuals on a regular basis—I truly 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 high 5 have been extremely shut.” – the Ferrari junior concluded.
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