In Formula 2, Oliver Bearman was just the driver; with Haas, he has to drive development forward in Formula 1—here’s how he earned respect
Oliver Bearman reflected on the steep learning curve during his first full Formula 1 season with Haas. The Briton emphasized that he had to take on a much more significant technical role than he was used to in the junior series.
With three outstanding substitute appearances under his belt, Bearman kicked off the 2025 Formula 1 season. He finished his rookie year in 13th place overall in the World Championship standings, finishing three points and two places ahead of his teammate Esteban Ocon. His impressive performance has continued into the current 2026 season.
In a recently released video from the Haas F1 Team, the young driver looks back on his first season with the American racing team. The transition from Formula 2 to Formula 1 presented an enormous challenge for Bearman. The adjustment involved not only understanding a car that was fundamentally different from his former Prema race car, but also the massive expansion of the team around him.
From a 20-man team to a Formula 1 factory
“It was an important year for me,” he says. “I think it’s probably the year I’ll learn the most in my life, because I’ve entered Formula 1 for the first time. You only get to experience that once.”
Bearman emphasizes his personal development: “I’ve matured a lot. In Formula 2, the team at the track consisted of maybe 20 people. Of course, the team at the factory was much larger, but on-site there were just 20 people—and now that number has at least tripled.“
Added to that is the support from headquarters: ”We have nearly 400 employees back at the factory. So the team has grown exponentially.”
Feedback as the Key to Development
In the junior series, pure speed is the main focus for the drivers. In Formula 1, however, the drivers have to get used to the fact that car development depends heavily on their feedback. Bearman had to redefine this approach for himself.
“The developments we make to the car are directly influenced by what we as drivers say. You have to understand that this is your role. I never had this responsibility before, and it’s difficult to take it on automatically,” he explains.
“It takes a while. I think I’ve embraced the role well, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It definitely took a few races before I understood my position within the team. This position is very different from what it is in the lower categories.”
The Brit has since become more confident: “Now I’m someone who’s more outgoing and less afraid to speak up and voice my opinion. It’s difficult at first because you feel that your opinion might not be appreciated right away. It’s only natural: you’re basically coming in as a kid and have to earn respect first.”
Strong Form and an Eye on 2026
Bearman showed his best form in his rookie season starting with the race at Zandvoort. There, he managed a remarkable comeback from the pit lane to sixth place, followed by a streak of five consecutive races in the points. His fourth-place finish in Mexico, achieved in his Haas race car, is the best shared result for a driver on the team under the leadership of Team Principal Ayao Komatsu.
The 2026 season now presents another challenge due to the new regulation changes, which Bearman still has to get to grips with.
“I still have a lot to learn. For example, this is my first regulation change, while some of my competitors have already gone through two, three, or four of them. So this will be a completely new experience for me, which I’m looking forward to. It’s a great opportunity to learn, and hopefully there will be many more such changes in my career.”
Goal: World Championship
Bearman feels prepared for the future: “I feel like I can take everything I learned last year with me. And I can build on my knowledge even further through the experiences of 2026.”
Even though it isn’t a concrete goal for this year yet, he makes one thing clear without hesitation: “My life goal is to become world champion. I’m currently laying the groundwork so that, hopefully, one day I’ll be in a position to achieve that.”
After the first four races of the 2026 season, Bearman currently sits in eighth place in the drivers’ standings with 17 points, while his teammate is in 16th place with just one point.
