Oliver Bearman returns to the scene of his Formula 1 debut this race weekend. Just over a year ago, he received a call from Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz Jr, who was sidelined by appendicitis, during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Since then, much has changed in the life of the 19-year-old Haas driver, who hopes to be better prepared for the race that will always hold a special place in his heart this coming Sunday.
During the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Oliver Bearman admirably filled in for Carlos Sainz, who was out due to appendicitis. He secured a seventh-place finish, thanks in part to some impressive overtaking maneuvers. Just over a year later, he is back in Jeddah, this time as a Haas driver, reflecting on his Formula 1 debut at the press conference. “That was a crazy weekend. I hope I’m physically stronger than 12 months ago because it was a really tough race,” he recalls vividly. “Coming back a year later is a very special feeling, and I always love driving on this circuit. It will be my third time, and I’ve always performed well here. This circuit will always be special to me because of my debut, so I’m really happy to be back.”
Significant Changes
The British driver’s life has been turned upside down since then. “A lot has changed since my debut. As soon as you step into Formula 1, you have more fans and more people who know you, which brings both good and bad,” Bearman explains. He notices a clear difference between Formula 1 and Formula 2. “Formula 1 is a part of my life. One of the things that strikes me the most is the amount of travel and the busy schedule. In Formula 2, I raced fourteen times, which seemed a lot at the time. Now, I’m not even five races into my F1 career and I realize it’s truly full-time, with all the extra sponsor obligations, tests, and simulator work.”
Bearman is also looking forward to next week when there is no race scheduled. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marks the end of the season’s first triple header. “I’m looking forward to a week off next week and I’m going to fully enjoy it, as it’s also important to maintain a good balance. But when things are going well, it’s wonderful to be in the flow.”
