Oliver Bearman: The driver behind F1’s number 87
07 April 2025As the countdown ticks down to 87 days until the 2025 British Grand Prix, it's fitting to shine a spotlight on Britain's own Ollie Bearman who races with the number 87.
The F1 youngster undoubtedly possesses natural talent in abundance, but that’s not to say his ascension hasn’t been without challenges. As with many rapid rookies, there are still some kinks to be ironed out if he’s to establish his place in the sport long-term.
From karting prodigy to Formula 1
Ollie Bearman's motorsport journey began in Chelmsford, Essex, where he showcased exceptional talent in karting circuits across the UK and Europe claiming the IAME X30 Junior and Senior Winter Cup titles as well as the X30 Junior Euro Series crown across 2019 and 2020.
His prowess only grew in single seaters, leading him to dominate the 2021 Italian and ADAC Formula 4 championships, providing the perfect springboard to Formula 3 and Formula 2.
In 2022, Bearman fought for the F3 title, missing out by only seven points, earning himself a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy, and by 2023, he was testing Formula 1 machinery.
Two challenging F2 seasons followed. Despite taking seven victories across the two campaigns – most notably dominating the Baku 2023 weekend – Ollie failed to find a foothold in the series, not helped by intermittent F1 stand-ins during 2024.
2024: A glimpse into the future
Although ultimately hampering his F2 efforts, the 2024 season provided Bearman with unexpected opportunities to demonstrate his capabilities at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Stepping in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he became the youngest British driver to start an F1 race, finishing an impressive seventh.
Later in the year, another F1 opportunity presented itself with Haas and Bearman utilised his experience at Baku to score another point, finishing 10th.
His third and final appearance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, again with Haas, proved to be not as fruitful for the young Brit. Caught out by the treacherous conditions, he could only manage 12th. Still, he’d already done enough to convince Haas he was a viable prospect for a full-time race seat in 2025.
2025: The rookie season unfolds
Embarking on his first full season with Haas, Bearman's performances in the opening races have reflected his rollercoaster career to date, with a blend of challenging moments and standout performances.
- Australian Grand Prix: Bearman's debut in Melbourne was one to forget. Crashes and spins across all three practice sessions left him with only 13 laps under his belt before Qualifying, which he was also forced out of with a gearbox issue, ultimately starting 20th. He finishes the race last of the runners in 14th.
- Chinese Grand Prix: Undeterred, Bearman bounced back in Shanghai securing his first points of the season by finishing 8th. Starting from 12th on the grid, he showcased superb racecraft to silence any leftover critics from Melbourne.
- Japanese Grand Prix: At the iconic Suzuka Circuit, Bearman continued to impress by getting into Q3 for the first time in his career and subsequently finishing 10th, bringing home another point for Haas.
Team-mate dynamics: measuring up against Esteban Ocon
Partnered with an experienced race winner in Esteban Ocon at Haas, Bearman has a valuable benchmark and early indications suggest that he is holding his own against the Frenchman.
- Points: Bearman – 5, Ocon – 10.
- Races: Bearman – 2, Ocon – 2 (incl China Sprint)
- Qualifying: Bearman – 2, Ocon – 2 (incl China Sprint)
As the season progresses, Bearman has the opportunity to stamp his authority over a driver who’s proven himself a consistent and solid racing driver.
Future prospects: A potential Ferrari seat?
With his confidence growing race by race in 2025, Bearman could position himself well for a potential Ferrari seat in the near future.
As part of the Scuderia’s driver academy, the young Brit is next in line for F1’s most iconic team. If he continues to prove himself against the likes of Ocon, he may well be up for consideration when the time comes for Lewis Hamilton to retire.
Looking ahead: Eyes set on Silverstone
With 87 days until the British Grand Prix, anticipation builds for Bearman's first appearance at his home race. British fans will be eager to witness the home soil debut of a potential future star of F1 at Silverstone.
