Get to know Formula 2 and the drivers with the Everythingf1 Team. Welcome back to the “Get to know F2” series, we take a dive into the fantastic talent of Oliver Bearman.
What is Formula 2?
Following on from the previous Get to know F2 article, we have learnt the basic layout of Formula 2. This highly competitive series is a key step into getting into the pinnacle of motorsport – formula 1. The 11 teams and 22 drivers have jammed packed race weekends which prepares many drivers for life in F1.
Now let’s talk a little bit more about their cars. Unique to F2, the Chassis, Engine and Tyre supplier is all the same. An almost Perfect set up to see the best talent suitable for F1.
However, you may be thinking how come there are big difference in teams and drivers on race weekends? The ‘same car’ has very little truth, as the set ups, engineers and equipment are all different. For example teams with a higher budget may be able to afford “better” versions of these. Despite this, by having aspects of the car the same it makes the sport slightly more affordable. Although at the end of the day, motorsport no matter what level all tends to be relatively expensive.
Who is Oliver Bearman?
This young British Driver comes into F2 with an astonishing racing career. He had a clear karting success from a young age, when winning the Kartmasters British Grand Prix in 2017. His success continued into 2019 and his last venture in karting with a victory in the IAME International Final, IAME Euro Series and IAME Winter Cup.
His impressive career continued into his lower formulae days and prior to F2, Bearman was always known as one to watch. He was the first ever driver to win both Italian and German Formula 4 Championships where he gained the eyes of the Ferrari team and became a Ferrari Academy Driver shortly after.
Spectacularly, He came 3rd in the Formula 3 Championship in 2022 with the Prema team before quickly moving on up to Formula 2. His Formula 3 career was successful and during the season he had 1 race win and 8 podiums securing 3rd place in the championship. Now in formula 2 he only seems to be impressing even more…
Oliver Bearman in Formula 2
After 1 year in F3, the British driver was set to drive for the Prema team in F2 and so far he has not disappointed. He is currently 4th in the Championship with 88points (as of 18 July 2023), incredible for his rookie season.
Overall Ollie had driven amazingly through weekends showing his natural driving abilities. However he has had a fair few challenges. He is currently being beaten by his teammate Frederick Vesti, who has had a phenomenal season himself, but it is clear that the prema team spot something in this young talented driver.
How is Bearman Performing in F2
The Consistency for Oliver Bearman in F3 was a famous part of his career. But unfortunately for him, the start of his F2 season wasn’t all that it was expected to be. Ollie was at the bottom of the championship standings after scoring 0 points in the whole of the first race weekend in Bahrain.
Ollie had a hard time at the start of the season. His point-less weekend in Bahrain and disappointing results in the next two rounds of the championship only seemed to compound his disappointment. He only scored points in the sprints in Jeddah and Melbourne. It was clear at this point that Bearman was in need of a stroke of luck.
Excitingly this did happen for the Ferrari academy driver. He had a stellar weekend in Baku bringing home a first in both the sprint and feature race. He gained a whopping 38 points across that one weekend, shooting him up the standings.
Since then, he has had another win in the feature race at the Spanish Grand Prix. He also had a respectable weekend in Austria with an 8th and a 5th in the sprint a feature respectively. His latest race was at his home Grand Prix, Silverstone, where he secured 6th in both the sprint and feature races. Although these results are not where he would have liked to have finished, we can definitely see the fight within this young driver. He has proven he can win races and his clear talent only starting F2 at 17 is an immense achievement.
Good Luck Ollie
We are looking forward to watching Bearman on track more and more and we look forward to following his (hopefully) very successful future.