'You only get one shot in F1'

At just 19, Ollie Bearman has a berth at Haas after stunning stand-in drives last year. The young Brit tells Kieran Jackson it's where he expected to be but is taking nothing for granted

- Kieran Jackson

As foolish as it sounds, Ollie Bearman’s manager was actually cut off from the call which changed the life of his most precious client. Fortunately, the British teenager himself was not short of credit on his phone.

Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last March, Ferrari suddenly needed a driver after Carlos Sainz fell ill. Relaxing idyllically off the shores of the Red Sea fresh from securing a pole position in F2, 18-year-old Bearman spotted Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur’s name on his phone and, right then, knew he was about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime.

In just about every sport, the fearlessness of youth is something which captivates the masses. F1 is no different and last year, Bearman proved just that. The kid from Chelmsford, who left home at 16 after persuading his mother, Terri, that he wanted to pursue a far-fetched dream at Ferrari’s Driver Academy in Modena, has not just taken everything superbly in his stride. He has blown expectations out of the water.

But after the biggest 12-month whirlwind, is he actually in F1 earlier than expected? “Honestly, probably not,” Bearman tells The Independent. Not arrogantly, but confidently. “I always saw this year as being the one. When I started in F3 in 2022, I knew I had three years to make F1 so 2025 was always my target. Of course, I arrive here in unusual circumstances after last year. I realise I’m very fortunate to be in this position. But I’m ready to make the most of it.”

Bearman is speaking in the middle of his first pre-season test, as he starts his “dream” two-year contract with Ferrari-powered and American-owned team Haas in 2025. Our chat is delayed by a few minutes after an electrical outage at the Bahrain International Circuit, rendering all 10 teams powerless and in darkness.