Britain’s Oliver Bearman is aiming for a yr of “steady progress and improvement” as he prepares for his first full marketing campaign in System 1.
Bearman, who is not going to be 20 till Might, signed a multi-year settlement with the US-based Haas crew after making his debut as a alternative for Ferrari final yr when Carlos Sainz was stricken with appendicitis.
He was the third youngest driver to compete in F1 after Max Verstappen – now a four-time world champion – and Lance Stroll.
And he adopted that with a few drives for Haas in 2024, choosing up one other championship level with tenth place in Azerbaijan.
“Haas had an awesome season final yr. They had been on an awesome trajectory, ending T7 (within the crew standings) on the finish. That was actually surprising, however a incredible consequence for the crew,” he instructed BBC Look East.
“I hope we are able to proceed that trajectory, but it surely’s powerful to say, you understand, we have not pushed the automobile but, and we do not know the place we stand in comparison with the opposite groups by way of progress in comparison with final yr.
“So I believe my targets are actually simply myself, wanting inside, I wish to be pleased with my performances, see a steady progress and improvement although the yr and that is actually what I am specializing in.”
‘Final yr left me wanting extra’
Bearman, who grew up in Chelmsford, has been a fan of motor racing since childhood and took up karting at a younger age.
He nonetheless has a way of disbelief that he’s now lining up on the grid alongside the likes of Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion.
“I had a style of it final yr, three races, which left me wanting extra. And this yr I get 24 pictures, so I am actually wanting ahead to it,” he added.
“The primary race with Ferrari, I used to be extra nervous than something. Essentially the most troublesome day of my life to be thrown into an F1 automobile, significantly a crimson one.
“However to then to get one other two pictures and truly be capable to put together for it, figuring out that that might be the automobile I am racing subsequent yr, which is that this yr now, was very nice and I used to be capable of take all of it in and study loads.”
He continued: “It truly turned out that in each race I’ve completed I have been preventing on observe with Lewis in order that was actually only a dream come true, to race in opposition to somebody so well-known and so gifted as nicely, one of the best F1 driver we have ever had.”
‘Bodily coaching is ramping up’
Bearman – who will likely be one among 4 Britons on the grid together with Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell, plus Thai-Brit Alex Albon – has been engaged on his bodily conditioning over the winter to make sure he’s prepared for the rigours of a full yr of F1 motion.
“I do not assume folks fairly perceive how a lot goes on within the background; very busy schedules for us with the simulator work that we do, and bodily coaching is basically ramping up, I hope you see my neck is wanting a bit greater, however no, it is actually vital,” he mentioned.
“Because the starting, (when) I used to be six, seven years previous, doing 40-odd race weekends a yr, now it is down a bit however now I am racing worldwide fairly than simply countrywide so it is actually (been) an enormous dedication from after I began
“However I used to be keen to make it for my ardour for the game and I am keen to proceed and hopefully I’ve a protracted profession forward.”
