New F1 driver 'keeps it real', mum says

Oliver Bearman has signed a "multi-year" contract with Haas Formula 1 team

The mother of British driver Oliver Bearman said she was "super proud" of her son's promotion to Formula 1.

The 19-year-old, from Chelmsford in Essex, signed what the US-based Haas Formula 1 team called a "multi-year contract" from the start of the 2025 season.

He finished seventh on his F1 debut for Ferrari at this year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he stood in for Carlos Sainz, after the Spaniard was diagnosed with appendicitis.

Terri Bearman said the signing was "fantastic news" and she and his dad "had a little cry".

Terri Bearman said her son had "always kept it real"

"There had obviously been rumours since Jeddah," she said, "but up until Wednesday my husband and I daren't even talk about it, we didn't want to jinx it."

Bearman started karting at the age of six and made his single-seater debut in 2020.

He won both the Italian and German Formula 4 titles in 2021, finished third in his debut season in Formula 3 in 2022 and sixth in F2 last year.

He took his first Formula 2 victory of 2024 in Austria last weekend, after winning four races in 2023.

He has been living in Italy as a member of the Ferrari driver academy for three years.

'Hugely humble'

Mrs Bearman said they had not wanted to celebrate "until the ink was on the paper", but since Wednesday it had been "crazy".

"My phone hasn't stopped," she said.

"We've had loads of support, it's been really lovely... I'm just smiling and between smiling there are tears.

"The thing I'm proudest of is that he has stayed hugely humble.

"I know I'm his mum, so probably the biggest fan, but he's always kept it real.

"It's been a long journey but I'm super proud."

Bearman had been a reserve driver for Ferrari

Mrs Bearman said there had been sacrifices along the way.

From his karting days, when he would be away for at least eight weekends a year, to living in Italy, the family spent quite a lot of time apart as his two siblings pursued their own hobbies.

"Now we lock-in family time," she said, "that's ours".

"I'm actually proud to say that even at 19 he's still willing to come on holiday with us."

'It was worth it'

He has also had to keep up with his studies, albeit with a very supportive school, and there were also financial considerations.

"Karting is not a cheap sport," she said, "and it's not something that's come easily for us.

"Everyone assumes that there's a lot of money and, it's not that we've gone without, but growing up it wasn't easy to come by and there were times when we've had to not do championships.

"Oliver has never done the normal things that children would have done, but obviously that's a sacrifice he was willing to take even from seven," she added.

"He knew what he wanted to do. It's been a journey but I'm glad to say it was worth it."