Formula 1 will feature four British drivers on the grid in 2025, as Oliver Bearman secures a full-time seat with Haas, joining Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris.
The Ferrari junior played a role in ending Great Britain’s 56-year wait for four British drivers to score points in the same race when he finished in the top 10 at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The 19-year-old made an impressive F1 debut in Jeddah, stepping in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and delivering a standout performance. His talent earned him two more substitute appearances that season, replacing Kevin Magnussen at Haas in both Baku and São Paulo. Now, Oliver Bearman takes on a full-time role with Haas, officially joining Hamilton at Ferrari, George Russell at Mercedes, and Norris at McLaren as part of the British contingent in Formula 1.
Hamilton, meanwhile, embarks on a fresh chapter in 2025, having made the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari. The seven-time world champion takes over the seat previously occupied by Sainz and partners Charles Leclerc at the Scuderia. After three challenging years with Mercedes, the 40-year-old appears revitalized in his new surroundings, determined to chase an elusive eighth F1 title.
Oliver Bearman Notices Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Steering Wheel Modifications During F1 Testing
Hamilton wasted no time settling into his new life at Ferrari after making the move to Maranello in January. During pre-season testing, the Ferrari junior, with his extensive knowledge of Ferrari’s systems from his time as a reserve driver, quickly noticed a key adjustment Hamilton had requested—modifications to the buttons on his steering wheel.
As someone deeply familiar with Ferrari’s controls from both his Haas and Scuderia duties, Oliver Bearman immediately spotted the difference. He revealed that Hamilton had asked for changes because Ferrari’s default neutral button was located where Mercedes traditionally places its DRS switch. This insight highlights how even the smallest details matter when transitioning between teams, as Hamilton fine-tunes his new setup for optimal performance with Ferrari.
At F1 Testing in Bahrain, the Haas driver told BBC Sport that on Hamilton’s Mercedes steering wheel, the DRS button was located where Ferrari’s neutral button was positioned. He believed Hamilton had rearranged some controls to make certain functions more convenient.
Oliver Bearman added that switching teams often required adjustments, noting from his own experience at Haas that even small changes to familiar layouts could be significant. He imagined that after spending a decade in the same car, Hamilton would have developed habits that made such modifications necessary.
Lewis Hamilton Requested Steering Wheel Changes on His First Day at Maranello
From the moment he arrived at Maranello, Lewis Hamilton wasted no time in making adjustments to his Ferrari setup. On his very first day with the team, the seven-time world champion requested modifications to his steering wheel, ensuring a layout that felt more familiar after 12 seasons with Mercedes, where he had built long-standing habits since joining in 2013.
Since quick, instinctive adjustments are crucial during every Grand Prix, Hamilton naturally wanted Ferrari’s button configuration to be more in line with what he was accustomed to at Mercedes. In addition to altering the button layout, he also requested a change to Ferrari’s clutch system, opting for a single-paddle setup—another element he carried over from his time with the Silver Arrows. These tweaks highlight his commitment to optimizing comfort and efficiency as he adapts to life in red.
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