After making his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari in 2024, Oliver Bearman has just completed his first full season as a Haas race driver and is already looking ahead to the future.
Oliver Bearman, current Haas driver and member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, has brought his first full Formula 1 campaign to a close. In 2024, the British driver was given the opportunity to debut in the top category of motorsport by stepping in for Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari for a single race. Interviewed by F1.com, Bearman reflected on his rookie season by analysing the highs and lows of his 2025 campaign.
Laying the foundations for the future
Comparing his experiences in 2024 and 2025, Oliver Bearman admitted: “I’m really happy with how things are going, especially in the second half of the season. Everything has been much more under control and less frantic compared to before. The three races I did last year were pretty crazy, but I managed to find my rhythm in F1.”
After getting through the initial adaptation phase to a new category and the demands that come with being a Formula 1 driver, Oliver Bearman was able to find his own balance within the championship.
However, the season was marked by both positive moments and difficult phases. Some mistakes saw the British Haas driver come close to a potential race ban due to the accumulation of penalty points on his super licence. In Mexico, on the other hand, Bearman achieved the best result of his career, finishing fourth and keeping Oscar Piastri behind him at the chequered flag. “There were some mistakes that I wasn’t proud of or happy with. I’m also allowing myself the time to make these errors, because I’m aware of my position. I’m a rookie, I’m still learning and I’m building my experience. These mistakes will happen.”
The Ferrari junior underlined how everything that happened this season, both the good moments and the more challenging ones, represented an important learning experience to build solid foundations for the future: “I feel that so far everything has been a great opportunity to learn and improve. That is really the most important thing. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a continuous journey and a big learning process. That’s exactly what I feel I’ve done well this year.”
Preparing for 2026
The British Haas driver is already looking ahead to 2026, a year that will represent a fresh start for all drivers, from the most experienced names on the grid to the youngest. Despite the uncertainties, Ollie Bearman said he is excited about what lies ahead: “The other drivers have more years of experience than me in this [type of] car; so maybe it’s a good thing to be able to reset things a little!”
Oliver Bearman added: “In general, I feel this car has suited me pretty well, but I’m excited to see how next year’s one will behave. I haven’t tried it on the simulator yet, so it will definitely be interesting – also to understand the challenges it will put in front of us.”
As Ollie Bearman closes his first full Formula 1 season, his focus is now firmly on building consistency and experience, with the major technical reset of 2026 representing a key opportunity to take the next step in his career.
Oliver Bearman has successfully transitioned from a standout Ferrari substitute to a full-time Haas driver, emphasizing that his rookie season was a vital learning process filled with both challenges and breakthroughs. As he looks toward the major regulation changes of 2026, he views the technical reset as a perfect opportunity to level the playing field against more experienced rivals.
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