Bearman’s Future Has Me More Excited in the Medium Term
Ollie Bearman’s Formula 1 opportunities have been limited so far, but when he has gotten behind the wheel, he has impressed. His standout performances have led Haas to offer him a contract for the 2025 season. However, Jock Clear, Head of the Ferrari Driver Academy and Charles Leclerc’s driver coach, believes Bearman’s potential is far from fully realized, hinting at even greater things to come.
The 19-year-old Ollie Bearman was originally set to spend the entire 2024 season driving for Prema in Formula 2 alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli, aiming for a standout year to strengthen his chances for an F1 seat. However, when Carlos Sainz had to miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis, Bearman was the first-choice replacement. Despite having minimal preparation, he qualified P11 and finished an impressive P7.
Bearman’s stunning performance showcased his talent, building on his experience from FP1 sessions with Haas throughout the season. When Kevin Magnussen was sidelined with a race ban for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Bearman stepped in once more, qualifying P11 and finishing P10, securing points in just his second F1 race.
The simulators today are incredibly advanced, which is a natural evolution of the technology. Their fidelity is so high now that drivers like Colapinto and Ollie Bearman can transition seamlessly to Formula 1. When they arrive, it doesn’t feel foreign to them. They already understand how to manage the tyres and what to expect from circuits they’ve never driven on because the virtual versions are so accurate,” concluded Jock Clear.
Source: https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/305187/jock-clear-on-oliver-bearman-and-his-potential-in-f1.html
