Getting to know Oliver Bearman

We got the lowdown from our latest signing…

Ollie, congratulations on being announced as a MoneyGram Haas F1 Team driver for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. How does it feel to finally have your future confirmed and announced?

“I'm very happy to have my future for next year confirmed and I just can't wait to get started. It's still a long time away in the grand scheme of things, but I'm happy that it's already confirmed so that I can start working on what I need to be as ready as possible.”

You’re the youngest British Formula 1 driver to have raced, joining Sir Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris on the grid next year – what does mean to you?

“It's a great honor, of course. I grew up watching Lewis racing in McLaren at the start of the previous decade, and it's been a while since then. I’ve shared the track with him on many occasions in free practice now and of course in Jeddah. The fact that I will get to do that on a regular basis, with Lando and George as well, these guys are extremely talented drivers. I’m looking forward to seeing the support at Silverstone on Friday and all throughout the weekend.”

Do you have any existing friendships or relationships in the paddock? Who will you be hanging out with at the drivers’ parade?

“I know a few, especially the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, I spend a lot of time with them. They've both been really kind and accommodating at the start of my start within F1. I know people like Oscar quite well also, I'm a big fan, and of course all the British guys as well.”

For Haas fans who haven’t followed your junior career – can you take us through how old you were when you got into your first kart and your journey to being announced as a Formula 1 driver?

“I was six years old when I got into my first kart. My uncle and mom took me - my uncle always takes credit for being the first one to take me karting - and after that, I got a go-kart for Christmas that year. I started racing competitively at the age of eight, which is the youngest you can and went step-by-step through the ranks.

“I went to junior karting when I was 14, and I did a few races in Europe. I made the jump to single-seaters in 2020 at the age of 15. In 2021 I won both the Italian and German F4 Championships which at the time were the most competitive. From there, I made the step to Formula 3 and I also joined the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. In 2023 I made the jump to Formula 2, where I came sixth in my first season, and jumping ahead to 2024, I’ve just won my first race of the season in Austria. I now find myself here looking at an F1 seat for next year, so it's been a very quick progression but one that I'm very proud of.”

Your family has also become well known in the paddock, who do you have supporting you back at track and at home?

“I receive a lot of support from my dad, he's shadowing me all the way. When they show him on TV it looks to me like he’s actually driving the track with me. He comes to all my races, and he’s only missed maybe 10 in my career, I can probably count on my hands how many he’s missed. Now his role has changed a lot, he’s no longer giving me tips, which is what he used to do. He really helped me in karting when I was starting out, as much as I thought he didn't know anything, he did help me a lot. Now, he supports my brother as he’s karting and kind of following in my footsteps. I have my whole family at home supporting me and my phone blows up every time I have a good race, or anything like that, it’s very nice.”

Let us get to know you a bit better, tell us about yourself…

“I was born on 8th May 2005, and grew up near East London and moved to Chelmsford in Essex. I don’t live there anymore, at the moment I live in Modena, Italy, but I’m not sure about my plans for next year yet!

“When I’m not at the track, and to relax, I’ve recently got into cycling. I got my bike two or three months ago, and I've been riding quite often, I find it a great way to switch off. It's a very liberating thing and I can go for hours, I find it really enjoyable, and it's great training for racing as well. Aside from that, I like to spend as much time as I can with my family, which of course is pretty difficult.”

You’ve driven now in four FP1 sessions with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and have embedded well with the team – how does it feel representing MoneyGram Haas F1 Team?

“I’ve found everyone's so accommodating, so welcoming, so kind, and not only to me but also my dad, my manager and everyone who supports me. I really feel at home here. There are a lot of Brits which is a nice change for me because since I started racing single-seaters I haven't raced with a British team full-time. I feel like I’m building good relationships with the team in the garage and the engineers, and after visiting the factory I’m looking forward to building more relationships. There are also some Italians as well, so I get the best of both worlds with some familiar Ferrari colleagues. I feel like the team has a great level of motivation at the moment, and I’m learning a lot from being with the team. I hope we can have a great future together.”

What are your objectives for your remaining FP1 sessions with the team?

“My goal remains the same; to keep learning, to keep building up and not take too many risks. Now that my future is secure, that's even more the case as I don't really need to prove anything to anyone else, so I'm just going to enjoy it. I want to try and learn as much as I can to be as ready as possible for next year.”