For many newcomers, there is nothing like the magic of competing against your Formula 1 heroes for the first time, but Haas driver Oliver Bearman has surpassed that!
Bearman has competed in three grands prix in 2024 and has credited his role as a driver, booked for both Haas and Ferrari, with one driver in particular tasked with that task: Lewis Hamilton.
Oliver Bearman “the heart of Lewis Hamilton” in 2024 Although Oliver Bearman, at 19, is about to embark on his first full Formula 1 season with the Haas crew in 2025, the British driver has accumulated three major prizes in 2024.
In 2022, when Bearman joined the Academia de Pilotos de Ferrari, he did so with the hope of one day making it to the Formula 1 grid at the wheel of a Ferrari-powered single-seater, but it is very likely that he did not expect his first outing to be in the second Grand Prix of 2024, when I still had a contract with Prema in Formula 2!
Without embargo, prior to that career, Carlos Sainz suffered a bout of appendicitis and required surgery, which meant Bearman was recruited, becoming the youngest driver to race for Ferrari, on his way to an impressive seventh place.
Later in the race, Bearman returned to action; in Azerbaijan, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was given a points suspension, while in Sao Paulo, the Dane retired due to illness. He finished tenth and twelfth, respectively.
Bearman you have already had the opportunity to compete against some of your idols, but there is one of them that you are tough!
During the media comparison before the Australian Grand Prix, Bearman was asked which of the experienced drivers he was most looking forward to competing against in 2025.
It started with a great line: “Max [Verstappen]. I’d be great then!”
But beyond giving the reigning world champion a run for his money, Bearman admitted he was primarily interested in competing against riders he’d watched as a child.
“Of course there are a lot of drivers with a lot of experience,” he says of the F1 2025 grid.
“Well, not many anymore, but some of them, the ones I saw as a kid, would probably be the drivers I would most like to race against, because they have always been a part of my life, in some way.
“I have been with Fernando [Alonso] and Lewis [Hamilton] all my childhood, and now to share the track with them is a very special feeling.”
But it seems that last season he no longer lacked one of those two drivers.
“For some reason, you were able to compete with Lewis in almost every race they did last year. We’ll always finish together,” Bearman said.
I’m fed up with competing with Lewis!
The Briton laughed and added: “If I can get close to him this year, it means the car is pretty fast. That would be a good sign.”
Haas has found stability and pace throughout 2024, with the crew under the control of Ayao Komatsu. However, the driver lineup is completely new for 2025, bringing new possibilities and unpredictability.
