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How “nervous” Ollie Bearman convinced Ferrari to sign him
Ollie Bearman has been a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since late 2021.
Ollie Bearman has revealed how he became a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, a partnership that ultimately led to his arrival in Formula 1.
Bearman is viewed as one of the most exciting young talents on the F1 grid, and, now in his second season, has gone from strength to strength with Haas.
Reflecting on how he initially joined the Ferrari programme, Bearman told the Up to Speed podcast: “Actually, I went to that camp and had to convince them to sign me, because they were actually trying to sign karting drivers, not Formula 4 drivers.”
Asked how he convinced Ferrari to sign a slightly older driver instead, he continued: “I would like to say that I went in there with loads of confidence and everything, but I was very nervous doing the meeting with the guys.
“But we went on track and showed them what we were capable of first hand, and that is a really cool thing that they do. They put the drivers to the test in front of them. It’s like football scouting, they see exactly what they’re capable of.
“I hope to one day put on the Ferrari suit and race for them, but I understand that it’s a long journey, I need to prove that I’m capable of racing for Ferrari.
“The pressure is obviously much higher in a top team like that, so continuing to work with Haas is really fun and I’m learning so much as well.”
Through his connections as part of the FDA since 2021, Bearman is being increasingly linked with an eventual move to join the Scuderia, with his current contract up at the end of the season. Coincidentally, Lewis Hamilton’s contract also concludes at the end of this year, although Charles Leclerc is signed until the end of 2029.
Pressed on whether Ferrari is the only team that he wants to join, Bearman added: “That’s of course my target, especially given the trust that they gave me, first of all to take me into their academy and invest so much in me from F3 all the way to Formula 1, put me in this seat with Haas, and also to trust me with their car when Carlos [Sainz] was sick.
“They had other reserve drivers who had more experience, but they took the shot on the 18-year-old, and luckily, it worked out.
“So they’ve obviously given me a huge amount of trust and believed in me from the very beginning.”
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Ollie Bearman has been a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since late 2021.
Ollie Bearman has revealed how he became a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, a partnership that ultimately led to his arrival in Formula 1.
Bearman is viewed as one of the most exciting young talents on the F1 grid, and, now in his second season, has gone from strength to strength with Haas.
Reflecting on how he initially joined the Ferrari programme, Bearman told the Up to Speed podcast: “Actually, I went to that camp and had to convince them to sign me, because they were actually trying to sign karting drivers, not Formula 4 drivers.”
Asked how he convinced Ferrari to sign a slightly older driver instead, he continued: “I would like to say that I went in there with loads of confidence and everything, but I was very nervous doing the meeting with the guys.
“But we went on track and showed them what we were capable of first hand, and that is a really cool thing that they do. They put the drivers to the test in front of them. It’s like football scouting, they see exactly what they’re capable of.
“I hope to one day put on the Ferrari suit and race for them, but I understand that it’s a long journey, I need to prove that I’m capable of racing for Ferrari.
“The pressure is obviously much higher in a top team like that, so continuing to work with Haas is really fun and I’m learning so much as well.”
Through his connections as part of the FDA since 2021, Bearman is being increasingly linked with an eventual move to join the Scuderia, with his current contract up at the end of the season. Coincidentally, Lewis Hamilton’s contract also concludes at the end of this year, although Charles Leclerc is signed until the end of 2029.
Pressed on whether Ferrari is the only team that he wants to join, Bearman added: “That’s of course my target, especially given the trust that they gave me, first of all to take me into their academy and invest so much in me from F3 all the way to Formula 1, put me in this seat with Haas, and also to trust me with their car when Carlos [Sainz] was sick.
“They had other reserve drivers who had more experience, but they took the shot on the 18-year-old, and luckily, it worked out.
“So they’ve obviously given me a huge amount of trust and believed in me from the very beginning.”
Ollie Bearman has revealed how he became a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, a partnership that ultimately led to his arrival in Formula 1.
Bearman is viewed as one of the most exciting young talents on the F1 grid, and, now in his second season, has gone from strength to strength with Haas.
Reflecting on how he initially joined the Ferrari programme, Bearman told the Up to Speed podcast: “Actually, I went to that camp and had to convince them to sign me, because they were actually trying to sign karting drivers, not Formula 4 drivers.”
Asked how he convinced Ferrari to sign a slightly older driver instead, he continued: “I would like to say that I went in there with loads of confidence and everything, but I was very nervous doing the meeting with the guys.
“But we went on track and showed them what we were capable of first hand, and that is a really cool thing that they do. They put the drivers to the test in front of them. It’s like football scouting, they see exactly what they’re capable of.
“I hope to one day put on the Ferrari suit and race for them, but I understand that it’s a long journey, I need to prove that I’m capable of racing for Ferrari.
“The pressure is obviously much higher in a top team like that, so continuing to work with Haas is really fun and I’m learning so much as well.”
Through his connections as part of the FDA since 2021, Bearman is being increasingly linked with an eventual move to join the Scuderia, with his current contract up at the end of the season. Coincidentally, Lewis Hamilton’s contract also concludes at the end of this year, although Charles Leclerc is signed until the end of 2029.
Pressed on whether Ferrari is the only team that he wants to join, Bearman added: “That’s of course my target, especially given the trust that they gave me, first of all to take me into their academy and invest so much in me from F3 all the way to Formula 1, put me in this seat with Haas, and also to trust me with their car when Carlos [Sainz] was sick.
“They had other reserve drivers who had more experience, but they took the shot on the 18-year-old, and luckily, it worked out.
“So they’ve obviously given me a huge amount of trust and believed in me from the very beginning.”
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