Oliver Bearman is hoping to have the opportunity to race Lewis Hamilton when he makes his Formula 1 debut with Haas next year.
The 19-year-old Ferrari academy graduate was announced on Thursday as one of the two drivers for the American outfit for the 2025 F1 season.
Bearman revealed he received support from Hamilton, who will be at Feraari next year, during his formative racing years almost a decade ago.
“I hope I’m against him [Hamilton], because that means we did a good job,” he said.
“It’s crazy and I was looking back, I received a video from him in 2016 or 2015 saying keep pushing and hopefully you can make F1 one day, and here I am.
“It’s crazy to share the track with these guys, I’ve watched racing even Fernando, it’s something pretty special and a pinch yourself moment.
“In my eyes, he’s a huge star and someone I look up to.”
Hear from our 2025 driver 🤩
Ollie will also be driving in Friday’s FP1 session in front of his come #BritishGP crowd 🇬🇧#HaasF1 | @OllieBearman pic.twitter.com/hO9TxhqMn9
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 4, 2024
Bearman will be the fourth British driver on the grid next year alongside Hamilton, his Mercedes teammate George Russell and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
It is the most that the F1 grid has had since 2013 when Hamilton, Jenson Button, Paul di Resta and Max Chilton raced for Mercedes, McLaren, Force India and Marussia respectively.
