This morning, on the eve of the race weekend at Silverstone, the news the young Englishman will occupy one of the two seats of the American team owned by Gene Haas. Fromdebut on karts up to debut in Formula 1 with Ferrari on the Jeddah weekend: let's find out who is Oliver Bearman, the future driver of the team Haas.
How the love for engines was born
Oliver Bearman was born onMay 8, 2005 in Chelmsford, the English city and capital of the county of Essex. There passion for motors blossoms in the family thanks to his father and grandfather. In fact, they both took part in various competitions and little Ollie watched them curiously from the stands. Although they did not race in high-level championships, it was enough for the English driver to attend a few races, includingintoxicating smell of fuel and roar of the engines, to fall in love of this sport.
A , for the first time, he started to driving a kart. However, his career began a few years later, in 2013, when he started competing in the Trent Valley Kart Club championship. He then moved to the Super 1 National Championship where he managed to win the silver medal in both 2016 and 2017. Again in 2017, Oliver, won the Kartmasters British Grand Prix and then finished his career in karting in 2019 conquering the victory in the IAME International Final, IAME Euro Series and IAME Winter Cup.
Ollie's curious debut in single-seaters
At the beginning of 2020 Bearman was 14 years old and the debut in Formula 4 not it was for him possible due to the minimum age of 15 years. However, due to Covid, the start of the F4 championship was postponed to a date after the Englishman's 15th birthday. A last minute choice to participate, so much so that Ollie only had 6 days of tests to prepare on his single-seater debut.
With US Racing competed in the championship ADAC F4 and took part in three rounds of F4 Italian company. On the German circuit of Hockenheim Bearman won his before purchasing, victory, while in the Italian series he collected one victory in Vallelunga and another podium. In 2021 he moved to the team Van Amersfoort Racing, competing in the categories that he had had the opportunity to test the previous year. Ollie signed one winning streak consecutive – then interrupted by a disqualification – which included: two victories in Misano, a hat-trick in Vallelunga and two in Imola. With 8 total victories won the title of F4 Italian Champion with a round to spare as he sweated that in ADAC, however obtaining it in the final round.
From Formula 3 to Formula 2 with Prema
In October of the same year he became a finalist of the Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals and the following month his presence in the Rossa youth program was confirmed. After taking part in the post-season tests of F3 Prema, the Vicenza team announced Oliver's move to this category for 2022, alongside Jak Crawford and Arthur Leclerc.
The Englishman won on debut, but received a post-race penalty for track limits. He finished 3rd at Silverstone, Spielberg and Budapest and his first victory in the preparatory category he arrived in the Sprint Race of Spa-Francorchamps. He stayed battling for the title until the final round of Monza where, in the Sprint, he took second place. The Feature Race was interrupted by a order of flags, placing a early end to the battle between Ollie and Maloney for first place and awarding a Victor Martins the title of F3 Champion. Bearman finished 3rd in the overall standings, just 7 points by the French pilot.
After just one year in F3, again with Prema, landed in Formula 2 alongside Frederik Vesti. The 2023 season for Oliver Bearman, future driver of the Haas, didn't start off in the best way. TO Jeddah qualified second, but after an accident with Pourchaire in the Sprint he was forced to retire, while in the Feature Race he took the last available point. On the weekend of Baku surprises by conquering the pole position, aincredible victory in race 1 and also in race 2, becoming the second youngest driver to win in F2 after Pourchaire. In Barcelona he obtained pole and victory in the Sunday race, while in Monza he came first in the Feature, reaching the mark 4 wins in the category.
Oliver Bearman: the future Haas driver
His journey with Prema in F2 continues, but for Ollie the calendar becomes even more intense. In fact, he will be appointed at the beginning of 2024 reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari and for the Haas team. In the second round of the preparatory category season in Jeddah, Bearman, obtains pole position, But a call upsets plans of English. Carlos Sainz he had to undergo a intervention for removal of the appendix e Oliver took his seat for rest of the weekend. After done just one free practice session driving the SF-24, gets the11th place in qualifying. In the race he gives his all, crossing the finish line in seventh place, thus earning his first points in the top category.
2025 will therefore be the year of his debut as an official driver in Haas which has decided to trust him with a multi-year contract. We'll see who his adventure companion will be, if Magnussen will be reconfirmed or if someone else will arrive.
