Born on May 8, 2005 in Chelmsford, young Oliver is destined for racing in the future. Formula 1 is on every Sunday at home and the young Brit can also regularly be found at the circuit. Not at the big events, but at the sports car races in which his grandfather, father and uncle participate.
Bearman impresses Ferrari
A tipping point will took place in 2020. Bearman was still karting, but will switched to Formula 4 for the first time in 2020. From karting championships in England to the prestigious Formula 4 championships in Germany (ADAC) and Italy.
How Bearman wants to get into Formula 1
That dedication is reflected in his choice of manager and his steep learning curve in different classes. Bearman wants to go professional. F1 is of course the main goal, but according to Oliver it should not end there.
Yet if you look at Bearman's CV, you would suspect otherwise. From British karting championships, he immediately switched to the best and most prestigious Formula 4 championships in Europe. The fact that Bearman survived his first season in 2020 and even won a race in both championships arouses Ferrari's interest. Yet it also shows how unprepared Bearman was for his first races.
After a seventh place in the ADAC championship and a tenth place in the Italian F4 championship, Bearman decides that he must drive another year in those classes. The Brit impressed in that second year. With a year of experience behind him, he wins seventeen races spread over both classes, and also wins both championships.
The fact that Bearman has won the championships with so little preparation and experience is also noticeable among the Formula 1 teams. Bearman goes for an interview with Ferrari and is offered a test at Fiorano. A test with different drivers: Bearman turns out to be the fastest, because he is the one who will be included in Ferrari's junior program in mid-2021.
After those championships, Ferrari actually wants Bearman to drive in regional classes, the usual step after F4 titles. However, Bearman does not like that step and presses on.
Bearman impresses as a rookie in Formula 3 and Formula 2
At the age of seventeen, Bearman ended up in F3. Once again a class where you will compete against much more experienced drivers, but Bearman impresses again. Victor Martins wins the championship, but Bearman is only seven points short in third place. To think that Bearman only really got going halfway through the season and you understand why Ferrari likes the young Brit.
Bearman made the switch straight to F2. In 2024, Bearman had a chance to drive for Ferrari in Formula 1. He replaced Carlos Sainz who was injured. He impressed and later in the year, Haas confirmed he will drive for the team in 2025.
