Interview
Oliver Bearman on 2024 so far and why he has high hopes for a final F2 flourish
It has been an up and down campaign for Oliver Bearman in Formula 2 this season. While he has taken a victory in 2024, he would have been aiming for more but the campaign has been a hugely important one in his career.
The PREMA Racing and Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy talent has showcased his undeniable speed in F1 machinery, securing points on replacement duty with Ferrari back in Jeddah, and earning a race seat with Haas F1 Team for 2025 after several FP1 appearances for the American outfit.
So, what does the Briton make of things now the racing action is paused, and everyone takes stock of the year so far. He says he has been using everything he can as a learning experience going forward, both the positives and the negatives.
“It's been a difficult season, the first season in my career where I'm not fighting for wins on a regular basis, which has been really difficult,” Bearman explained.
“I've learned a lot about some things, weekend approach and of course, being in a situation where I think it's fair to say that we're not able to win on a regular basis yet. It's definitely helped me to learn a lot. I'm definitely going to have seasons like this in my career. It’s not always plain sailing and this is a great learning experience.
“First of all, the fact that it's been a new car (has had an impact). From now on in my career, I have a new car every year. So that's a useful learning experience to have.
“The fact that we're not fighting where we want to be, I've had to change my mindset and change the way I work with the guys, and that's been difficult, but I've also learned a lot. So, I think every cloud has a silver lining.”
Part of his 2024 campaign has involved appearances in FP1 with his soon-to-be F1 team Haas. Bearman has been at the wheel of the VF-24 in four Practice session so far in 2024, with two more set to come in the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix later in the year.
Not only has the Briton been getting up to speed with his future team, but it has also lightened the pressure that could have otherwise been placed on him with he and PREMA still fighting their way back to the front in F2.
He says that having his future sewn up so early in what has been an unusually early driver market in 2024 will allow him to concentrate on his final F2 stint with PREMA as both seek to win again.
READ MORE: The top three battle it out: Spa-Francorchamps Team-by-Team Roundup
“Especially after the difficult start we’ve had, it's very easy to have these question marks in the background about your future and how much it affects you. It's very early days, which is a good feeling - to have no question marks in the background, that's a great feeling, of course. But it also shows that the teams around me have a lot of confidence and belief in me which is always a comforting feeling for sure.
“I'm glad that I’ve confirmed my plans for next year. Now I just can't wait to get going again because I want to finish on a high in F2 and with PREMA because it's been a long collaboration together and I think I owe it to them to finish with good results and to leave with a good memory, a good taste in the mouth, so I really hope that we can do that together.
“I want to finish on a high and I'm as motivated as ever to really go through this and finish on one. I feel like I owe it to the team to get that result so while I’m going into F1 in 2025, I need to finish this one.”
Speaking about those ambitions, Bearman says he and the team are making progress to restore themselves to more familiar territory.
Having already taken a Sprint Race victory this year back in Spielberg, there is real belief that they can achieve more success in the final portion of 2024 and can get back to winning ways.
Chiefly amongst those improvements is confidence in the car, which Bearman believes will allow him to push more and more towards the end in his efforts to end his time in F2 on a high note and cap off a momentous season in his career.
“I think we're getting where we want to with the car. I'm getting a better feeling race by race and I feel a bit more confident and comfortable. So, we're making steps in the right direction. There's nothing to lose, we can just go for it and hopefully we can keep making these steps as a team during our collaboration together, fingers crossed we can finish strongly.”