How good is Oliver Bearman: The new Verstappen or the next Mazepin?
General
- Ludo van Denderen
In Formula 1, luck is hugely important. Being in the right place at the right time can give a huge boost to a career, as Oliver Bearman experienced earlier this year. The Briton was lucky enough to be Ferrari's designated reserve in Jeddah (not Antonio Giovinazzi or Robert Shwartzman) and replace the suddenly ill Carlos Sainz. Thanks mainly to this debut in a fine Ferrari at the time, Haas decided to give Bearman a permanent place in F1 in 2025. But is the 19-year-old good enough?
If Bearman were judged solely on his campaigns in the step-up classes to Formula 1, it seems unlikely that he would make his entrance on the F1 grid in 2025. In his debut year in Formula 2, the Briton had one win (the sprint race in Belgium), before eventually finishing third in the championship. A year later, Bearman finished sixth in Formula 2; this year, for now, he is in a very mediocre 15th place.
Antonelli doing better than Bearman
That Prema's F2 car is difficult to handle is partly an excuse. But Andrea Kimi Antonelli is seventh in the championship with that same car (with two wins against Bearman's one). Besides, the F2 cars are all basically the same; it's ultimately about tuning the equivalent equipment. So even if it is not perfect at Prema, Bearman does not manage to get that little bit more out of his car.
Oliver Bearman can certainly accelerate. He has proven that in the past. But is he a potential top performer? His problem is that he has never been consistent, even in '23, when Bearman won four races. Too often, the Brit alternated such a positive result with a lapse. It is precisely inconsistency that Bearman cannot afford in Formula 1, especially with a team like Haas F1. At times when there are (few) opportunities to capture precious points, it has to be done.
Viewed this way, the US team is taking a risk by recruiting an inexperienced youngster like Bearman. The smallest and financially least decisive team on the grid undoubtedly takes into account that Bearman's learning curve will involve a few slips and consequent damage. That comes at a cost; money that Haas F1 can no longer use to further develop the car.
Bearman's dad transfers millions to Haas
Just one race in the Ferrari, then a mediocre season and the real possibility of causing damage. So why have Haas committed to Bearman? Reportedly, Haas has succumbed to the huge bucket of money that David Bearman is transferring to the team. Bearman's dad is the founder and CEO of Aventum Group; an insurance company that reportedly has $1.5 billion in cash in hand. With his many millions, Bearman has been sponsoring his son's career for many years and next season, ten to 15 million is said to be transferred to Haas F1.
It is up to Bearman to prove with so much financial backing that he deserves his spot in Formula 1. Soon we are going to know: is Bearman a super-talent like Max Verstappen, is he a potential top driver like Lando Norris, a mid-tier driver like his future teammate Esteban Ocon or a pay driver like Nikita Mazepin was in the past?