Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari was one of the most iconic moments of the winter season, with his first day at Maranello producing the most liked image in Formula 1 history on Instagram. For Oliver Bearman, a young talent of the Ferrari Driver Academy and now a Haas driver for the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello was an extraordinary event, vastly different from his own first experience with the Prancing Horse.
When Hamilton walked through Ferrari’s gates in January, he was welcomed with great enthusiasm. Dressed in an elegant black suit and a long coat, the seven-time world champion was photographed in front of Enzo Ferrari’s historic house, next to his favorite supercar, the Ferrari F40.
Ollie Bearman: “I Can’t Imagine What Hamilton Felt”
During that day, Hamilton shook hundreds of hands, introducing himself to the men and women of the Scuderia who will be responsible for providing him with a competitive car to chase his eighth world title. For Oliver Bearman, joining Ferrari was a completely different experience.
The British driver, who will make his Formula 1 debut with Haas this year, shared his first impressions: “I spent a lot of time there. I didn’t shake everyone’s hand—I don’t race for them in Formula 1.” Speaking about the factory’s size, Oliver Bearman added: “It’s a huge, incredible facility. I can only imagine Hamilton had a very long day.”
Reflecting on his first day at Maranello, he recalled: “On my first day, I was just a 15-year-old F4 driver. Walking into an F1 factory for the first time was crazy. I was impressed by the scale of the operation and the number of people.”
Oliver Bearman Following in Hamilton’s Footsteps
Oliver Bearman already got a taste of Formula 1 last year, stepping in for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia due to an appendectomy and later racing for Haas in Azerbaijan and São Paulo. The young Brit has clear goals for the future, while acknowledging Lewis Hamilton’s greatness: “No one has ever emulated Lewis, so I don’t expect to, because no one has managed to.”
However, his ambition remains strong: “My dream is to become world champion, and that’s what gets me out of bed every morning.” While focused on his new Ferrari adventure, Lewis Hamilton has been approachable with the Ferrari junior, having shared the grid with him three times last year.
“Every time I see him, he’s always super kind and available. It’s great to share experiences with him. Of course, he has a lot of experience, but he’s simply a fantastic person, and I enjoy talking to him.” While there hasn’t been a major exchange of technical advice, Oliver Bearman has still appreciated Hamilton’s positive attitude toward young drivers: “There hasn’t been a huge exchange of advice, but he just told me, ‘Go for it.’”
The young Brit concluded by emphasizing how important it is to have a Formula 1 icon supporting the new generation of drivers: “Hamilton is always very supportive of all the rookies, and it’s a really positive feeling.”
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