Having achieved his dream of racing in Formula 1, Oliver Bearman is already thinking about the next goal: returning to wear the Ferrari race suit. To make that happen, the young talent from the Ferrari Driver Academy will need to prove himself on track and convince the leadership of the Scuderia. The British driver seems to have regained confidence in the Haas following the car upgrades introduced in July, after a challenging period that tested him both on the track and psychologically.
The Italian website FormulaPassion had the opportunity to meet Ollie during the Zandvoort weekend, discussing these topics and many more.
The year of his debut
Two-thirds into his first full season, Ollie Bearman has no doubts about the best and most challenging aspects of racing in Formula 1: “The best part is definitely the car. It’s incredible to drive, and when you have complete confidence in the car during qualifying, it’s a truly special feeling, something hard to replicate anywhere other than the track. I love it, and I’m genuinely happy to be here.”
“On the other hand, when things go wrong, it can be difficult to shake off negative feelings, especially because there’s so much attention on you and the media asks a lot of questions. It’s not easy, and it’s something you have to get used to. I had never experienced it before, but it’s part of growing and being at the pinnacle of motorsport.” After a strong start to the championship, things didn’t go as Ollie expected, with a stretch of eight consecutive weekends without scoring points from Jeddah to Silverstone.
Situations like this can be very dangerous, quickly leading to self-doubt. “It’s a fine line,” Ollie comments. “I have a lot of confidence in my abilities, but it’s easy to start questioning yourself when things aren’t going well. Finding the right balance is hard, but it’s necessary because a bit of self-criticism is essential to grow as a driver. It’s about striking a compromise, but overall I’m a very confident person, and I hope to stay that way.”
All about confidence
The drop in results from April to July was linked to car development that caused Bearman to lose confidence in the VF-25, a scenario where driving becomes increasingly difficult: “You don’t know how the car will react, so you start changing the way you drive until it no longer feels natural. You begin adjusting various things, and once the car is back in the right window, it’s hard to readapt and go back. When you don’t feel the car in your hands, it’s really tough. Fortunately, things have started to improve in the second half of the season.”
The turnaround came with the upgrades at Silverstone, after which the British driver scored 2 points in the Sprint at Spa and finished 6th at Zandvoort, narrowly missing the points at Monza before the contact with Sainz. “I felt very comfortable with the updates,” Ollie says. “My confidence in the car benefited, and that’s important because until I felt it, it was something I couldn’t quantify. Now that I’ve regained it, I have good feelings for the second half of the year.”
Driving the team forward
Bearman’s renewed confidence is also thanks to his ability to communicate his needs to the team: “Formula 1 is different because we can influence car development, which is a new experience compared to Formula 2 and Formula 3. Our feedback is extremely important. You guide the team, and everything you say directly impacts the future direction of the car and the team. It’s challenging; you have to make sure you say the right things and steer the team in the right direction. I’m glad I could rely on Esteban [Ocon]’s experience in this, as he’s done it many times. I took advantage of it as much as possible because guiding the team was something I had never done before.”
These words confirm the driver’s central role in car development, despite the hundreds of sensors on board. It echoes Charles Leclerc’s words during his first year at Ferrari, when the Monegasque driver was hesitant to speak freely with engineers—a feeling Bearman has also experienced: “I felt a bit like that. However, I feel as if I’ve had a good relationship with this team for a long time, and I can discuss my car feedback openly with the engineers. There’s no judgment in this team; everyone has a very positive attitude toward improving, which is a good start.”
Other challenges
Ollie is discovering that Formula 1 involves many aspects beyond just driving: “These past months have been very demanding. I’ve raced 14 times in 7 months, which is practically my entire season from last year. It’s a big change, something I’ve had to adapt to, but I’m really enjoying it. I have the chance to drive the fastest cars on the planet—it’s incredible. On the other hand, there are many things I still need to get used to. I’m definitely improving at conserving my energy, which is very important when competing at this level.”
There’s another aspect to being an F1 driver: exposure to fans. “You have a public life, which is hard to get used to, but I’m managing it step by step. Being popular in your sport, having people enjoy what you do and making them happy, is everyone’s dream. But when you go out in public and everyone is looking at you, it’s not really a dream. Losing privacy is probably the hardest thing to adapt to. I’m not like some other drivers on the grid, but even going out for dinner can be challenging. It’s one of the realities of this life.”
Italy and Ferrari
Born in Chelmsford, United Kingdom, Bearman has gotten to know Italy closely over the years: “I think Italians speak from the heart, and it’s fantastic. When things go well, you see their passion shine through, and that’s really special. I’ve almost always worked with Italians in the team, and I think they’re a huge added value. Their passion and love for the sport are so evident—it’s the fuel for winning.”
“I love Italy, and I miss it a lot. I spent a lot of time there last year and have lived there for 2-3 years. I definitely miss the food, the people, and the great weather. It’s an amazing country. Racing at Monza is incredible. The fans are amazing, and Ferrari is my passion.” This love began during the years of battles with Lewis Hamilton and the Silver Arrows: “I’ve always been a fan of the underdogs. When Mercedes won everything and Ferrari fought with Sebastian Vettel for the title in 2017-2018, I always cheered for them. Since their call in 2021 to join the Academy, I’ve become Ferrari’s biggest fan.”
That weekend in Jeddah
It was at the wheel of the Ferrari that Ollie impressed the F1 world when he replaced the unwell Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Despite receiving the call just two hours before FP3, Oliver Bearman was ready and seized a unique opportunity: “I didn’t even have time to process my emotions because there was so much to learn. On the other hand, I was happy with what I managed to achieve. I was proud of myself for what I accomplished. I hope one day to wear red again.”
In Jeddah, Oliver got a taste of what it’s like to debut with a top team, then raced his first full season with a mid-field team like Haas, comparing the two experiences: “On one hand, a top team has many more resources, that can’t be denied. There are more opportunities and more personnel. For example, at Ferrari there was a driver coach to help me with driving and in-car controls, something we don’t have at Haas. We’re a smaller organization, so it’s not possible. I feel the difference, and I’m essentially coaching myself, but that’s the reality of working for a smaller team. On the other hand, we have much less pressure, although I put a lot on myself and set very high standards.”
Dreaming of Ferrari
For Oliver Bearman, the 2024 Jeddah weekend opened the doors to Formula 1 but also fueled his desire to one day drive for Ferrari again. “I was already highly motivated, and now that I’ve had a taste, I’m even more driven,” Ollie explains. “It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and motivates me in life. I hope one day to achieve it. For now, my career is with Haas, and I’m really enjoying it. They are a great team, and I think we can achieve big things together, with the hope of earning a future in Formula 1.”
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