Haas Formula 1 rookie Oliver Bearman has pointed to his debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as his proudest moment since entering the sport. The British driver impressed after stepping in last minute to replace Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined due to appendicitis.
Bearman started the race 11th on the grid and finished seventh, marking a remarkable debut for the then-youngest driver to compete for Ferrari and to score points in his first race. This standout performance quickly became a defining highlight of his early F1 career.
Additional Opportunities with Haas Offer Valuable Experience
Later in 2024, Bearman also filled in for Kevin Magnussen at Haas when Magnussen faced a race ban for accumulating too many penalty points. Bearman took the wheel for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing a 10th-place finish and earning a point. He later replaced Magnussen again at the Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing 12th after Magnussen withdrew due to illness.
Bearman’s involvement with Haas will deepen as he prepares for a multi-year contract with the American team starting in 2025. These substitute appearances provided valuable track time and experience ahead of his full-time role.
2025 Season Shows Consistent Progress
At the summer break in 2025, Bearman sits 19th in the drivers’ standings with eight points. His season highlights include an eighth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix and a seventh-place result in the Belgian sprint race. Additionally, Bearman demonstrated resilience during the Bahrain Grand Prix by climbing from 20th on the grid to finish in the points with tenth place.
Reflecting on His Journey and Future Aspirations
In a recent interview, Bearman reflected on his performances so far while expressing hope for continued growth. He praised his Saudi debut as a memorable moment, but remains ambitious for what lies ahead.
“Yeah, there’ve been some standout moments. I was really happy with Saudi, of course,” —Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Driver
“There’ve also been a few races where I felt like I performed really well but didn’t quite have everything to show for it – Monaco was an example of that. Also, Imola… these are races where I felt like I’ve been driving really well with nothing to show for it. Saudi is definitely my best moment so far, but hopefully there’s something that goes above that.” —Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Driver
Bearman’s early achievements and optimistic outlook indicate his determination to make a lasting impact in Formula 1, especially as he assumes a full-time role with Haas in upcoming seasons.
