Oliver Bearman: King of the F1 cameo in 2024

Drivers’ standings: 18th

Points: 7

Best finish: 7th

Best qualifying: 11th

Podiums: 0

British Ferrari starlet Oliver Bearman started a chain reaction early in 2024 that influenced this year’s silly season, placing an emphasis on fresh talent from the junior formulas, all while enduring a trying second FIA Formula 2 season. In spite of the distractions, his trio of F1 super-sub appearances secured him a full-time race seat on next year’s grid.

A baptism of fire

When it was announced back in February that Lewis Hamilton would become the latest British driver to don the iconic Ferrari red overalls in 2025, few expected an 18-year-old to beat him to the punch.

When Carlos Sainz suffered from appendicitis during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Oliver Bearman had placed his Prema Racing-entered F2 car on pole position the previous day. The call to become Ferrari’s youngest-ever F1 driver came very late in the day for Bearman, and he had to shift his focus to driving an F1 car around one of the most perilous circuits of them all.

With just one practice session before qualifying to get up to speed, Bearman nearly knocked out Hamilton in the battle to make Q3. In the race, he was unfazed, resisting a late charge from compatriots Hamilton and Lando Norris to take a stellar seventh on debut.

More seat time with Haas F1

Bearman already had a programme in place for the year alongside his F2 campaign, taking part in half a dozen free practice sessions with Haas. Rumours circulated that this was in preparation for a 2025 race seat, and those rumours only grew after his impressive cameo in Saudi Arabia.

The British driver completed FP1s for Haas for the Emilia Romagna, Spanish and Hungarian Grands Prix, as well as in front of his home crowd at Silverstone, before his second call-up of the season.

Back in Baku

Kevin Magnussen triggered an automatic race ban for accumulating 12 penalty points ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and so, Bearman’s services were called upon once again in 2024. The young Brit starred there during F2’s 2023 visit, nearly sweeping the entire weekend.

Bearman went 11th fastest again in qualifying, but lined up 10th on the grid thanks to a penalty for Hamilton. The race itself proved tricky, but by fending off team-mate Nico Hülkenberg, he was able to secure another points finish crossing the line 10th. By that point, Bearman was already a confirmed Haas driver for 2025, but another hard-fought points finish did nothing to hurt his reputation.

The Brit’s super-sub performances triggered the signing of numerous rookies for 2025; he is set to be one of four full-time rookies on the grid next year, joining Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto.

Another Free Practice One session followed in Mexico City, this time with Ferrari, before his third call-up of the season, in very demanding circumstances in Brazil.

Sink or swim in São Paulo

Magnussen was once again unable to drive at Interlagos, this time due to illness, so Bearman made his third guest appearance of the season. Conditions were treacherous throughout the weekend, and posed the Haas hotshot’s most daunting challenge to date.

Bearman had his best qualifying yet around a circuit he had never driven before, securing 10th on the grid for the Sprint before dropping back to 14th in the shorter race. Qualifying for the Grand Prix was held in torrential rain, and he could only manage 17th.

In the race, conditions were even worse, but Bearman was able to keep it on the road for the duration when more experienced drivers faltered. His race was not without issues though, and he eventually crossed the line 12th.

Trying times in Formula 2

Despite an impressive rookie F2 campaign in which he finished sixth overall and took four wins, Bearman’s sophomore season hasn’t been quite as fruitful.

The introduction of a new car in 2024 shook up the order and added a real element of unpredictability, with every one of the 11 teams in the mix at points across the season. Prema Racing, whom Bearman drove for, struggled to get on top of the new machinery, with Mercedes-bound team-mate Antonelli also struggling for pace.

Missing two rounds to race in F1 at Jeddah and Baku hasn’t helped, but beyond three thoroughly deserved Sprint race wins, he has been largely outshone and outscored by Antonelli.

In all, Bearman’s F2 season should not be what his year is judged, but by his trio of starring F1 performances. In 2025, he needs to carry that momentum through a gruelling 24-race calendar alongside new Haas team-mate Esteban Ocon – a race-winning competitor – who will be a very good yardstick to measure against.