Oliver Bearman attributes his significant progress in the 2025 Formula 1 championship to modifications in how he handles his race weekends.
The Haas team’s pilot secured the 13th position in his debut year, surpassing his Grand Prix-winning colleague Esteban Ocon by two places, largely due to stronger performances following the mid-season hiatus.
Out of his total nine finishes earning points, six occurred from the Dutch Grand Prix in August onward, a sequence that featured a fourth-place finish in Mexico where he competed within the top three for a considerable part of the event.
This represented a sharp divergence from his earlier performance, during which he completed nine races without scoring any points; despite a chassis upgrade in Austin contributing to the shift, Bearman believes the improvement stems from factors beyond that.
“Following the mid-season break, I made an effort to introduce more organization into my race weekends, specifically in my conduct throughout them,” stated the twenty-year-old driver.
“Frequently, I was dedicating excessive time. This also arose because the vehicle became faster. Prior to the summer recess, knowing our position meant struggling to even exit Q1, I dedicated all my energy to refining my driving and optimizing the car’s configuration to gain that marginal half a tenth.”
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
“I was spending virtually no time considering my mental state before entering the cockpit and establishing objectives for each session. Now, I simply ensure that thirty minutes before a session, I cease work on the car’s setup, driving techniques, and related matters, instead concentrating on my psychological readiness. I’ve discovered this approach to be considerably beneficial.”
However, these acquired insights are merely an inherent aspect of being a Formula 1 newcomer, as a competitor must navigate challenging phases to evolve into a more proficient driver.
“During the initial segment of the season, I secured 11th place in four or five consecutive events, indicating my performance wasn’t substandard,” Bearman commented, responding to a query about potential outcomes if he had employed his revised method throughout the entire year.
“Undoubtedly, there was an absence of regularity, but the sole means of discerning the correct actions involves committing those errors. It’s simple to claim I could revert and implement that system, but that’s merely my perspective as a driver in his second year,” he further explained, alluding to his participation in three Grand Prix events in 2024.
“That represents the genuine distinction. I would have implemented numerous alterations, made many changes to my actions, but how could I have accomplished that without understanding what is effective and what is not?”
“The initial portion of the season is entirely investigative and must remain so, as one needs to discover what methods are successful for them and which are not.”
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
“Formula 1 presents a starkly different athletic endeavor compared to anything I’ve pursued throughout my life. Certainly, I would have modified various aspects, but it’s not as straightforward as possessing prior knowledge. One must commit errors to derive lessons from them, and that has genuinely encapsulated the narrative of this season.”
Consequently, this advancement leads him to reflect on the year with considerable optimism, convinced it establishes a foundation for an extended tenure at the highest echelon of motor racing.
“I am content with my performance,” the British national stated. “This doesn’t imply that I am an impeccable and refined driver, as I recognize there is still much for me to acquire.”
“Nevertheless, I believe acknowledging that fact is equally crucial. I sense that I am currently in a favorable position. The organizational framework I’ve introduced to my race weekends has proven quite effective.”
“I believe I’ve established a certain impetus and flow. I consider rhythm to be an exceedingly potent element within this discipline. The transformation isn’t solely attributable to a single factor.”
“It also arises from accumulating expertise within the sport. Participating in race 21, or whichever event number we’re currently at – I’ve lost track – is additionally a significant contributor.”
