Oliver Bearman Q&A: Mexico City Grand Prix

Welcome to the team, Oliver! You’ll be participating in FP1 sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, what preparation have you had for driving the VF-23 and what are your feelings ahead of your first drive? 

“In terms of preparation for the FP1 sessions, first things first, I’ve been pretty busy in the gym. I’ve been working hard on my upper body because it’s quite a big step from Formula 2, especially on the neck. In Mexico, there’s a lot of heavy braking so that’s been my main focus. I’ve been watching previous sessions in Mexico just to see how the track evolves throughout and on the simulator I’ve been pretty busy just trying to get a feel for the car and the steering wheel, because it’s quite a bit different to F2. Finally, I’ve done a Formula 1 test in Fiorano which was nice, getting used to the speed and the G-Force so it won’t be quite the shock when I get to Mexico.” 

 

At only 18, you’ll be the youngest British driver to participate in a Formula 1 weekend. Growing up, who were your idols and what does it mean to be sharing the same piece of tarmac with F1 legends? Do you expect the emotion to go away when you pull the visor down?

“That’s a really exciting part of the test, being the youngest British driver on track in an F1 session. I’m for sure excited to fulfill my dream of driving a Formula 1 car because that’s what I grew up watching and it will be amazing to be on track with these guys. It’s also a bit scary as I will be on track with people I grew up watching, like Lewis [Hamilton] and Fernando [Alonso] – I’ll try and stay out of their way! I think once you get on track and start driving, it’s business and usual. I’m really excited but also once I’m driving, I don’t think I’ll be thinking about it too much.”

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is famously known for being 2km above sea level, bringing its own challenges to both cars and drivers. What extra physical preparation do you need to put in, and how big is the jump from Formula 2 to Formula 1, in all aspects?

“Of course, the track in Mexico is really high altitude and that puts a lot of physical strain on the drivers. The air is thinner, so we’re working harder at that altitude. I’ve been trying my best to prepare, I obviously don’t have access to high altitude around me so I’ve been training with a mask on to simulate less oxygen, and working as hard as I can to make sure when we get up there it shouldn’t be too difficult. The jump from Formula 2 to Formula 1 is quite a big step, there’s quite a lot more downforce which is the main difference, that’s what I’m working on to try and manage that.”

 

You’re currently sixth in the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship. What do you hope this experience brings and what learnings will you be able to take for future race campaigns?

“This year has been going quite well I’d say. I’ve gained so much experience and I’ve grown so much as a driver throughout this season, and I’ve learned so much about myself as well. I have regrets and things where I kick myself for making some silly mistakes but what I’ll takeaway is how much I’ve learned and how ready I am for whatever next year throws at me.”