Ferrari Reserve Driver Oliver Bearman Returns to F1-75 After Impressive Debut
After making his Formula 1 Grand Prix debut in Saudi Arabia, Ferrari Reserve Driver Oliver Bearman is once again behind the wheel of the team’s 2022 challenger, the F1-75. Bearman stepped in for Carlos Sainz, who was unable to participate in last weekend’s race due to appendicitis. Despite his limited experience, the 18-year-old Englishman showcased his talent by narrowly missing out on a top-10 spot in qualifying and finishing seventh in the Grand Prix. Bearman attributes his success to the rigorous training provided by Ferrari’s Reserve Driver program, which allowed him to seamlessly adapt to the demands of the race. He also credits his previous testing sessions in the 2022 and 2021 Ferrari cars for helping him quickly find his rhythm on the track. Today, Bearman continues to test the F1-75 in Fiorano as part of Ferrari’s ongoing car testing program.
Bearman will participate in six FP1 sessions with Haas throughout the year, in addition to his involvement in Ferrari’s previous car testing program for the F1-75. Jock Clear, the Head of Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, emphasizes the significance of combining practice sessions and testing for the development of young drivers in the 2022 ground effect cars. Clear acknowledges the challenges of track testing in the current regulations, which limit the amount of time young drivers can spend on the track. Despite this, Bearman has had opportunities to familiarize himself with previous cars through testing in Barcelona and Fiorano, as well as participating in end-of-season tests in Abu Dhabi. The focus of Bearman’s track testing has been to ensure he understands the key aspects of driving, such as starts, pit stops, and communication via radio. Clear highlights Bearman’s ability to handle the complexities of an F1 car, particularly the busy steering wheel, as a testament to his education and development over the past couple of years.