Newly signed Haas driver Oliver Bearman has defined his Formulation 1 race quantity selection, after additionally revealing the story of a video message Lewis Hamilton despatched him as a child.
Bearman’s 2025 contract with Haas was announced on Thursday, forward of his dwelling British Grand Prix, and can see him make his step as much as a full-time F1 seat following a one-off look in Saudi Arabia for Ferrari.
Unique Oliver Bearman column: On the cusp of the F1 dream
One of many key selections a brand new F1 driver has to make is choosing a everlasting race quantity – with Bearman having quickly taken #38 when he stood in for Sainz at Jeddah.
For subsequent yr, Bearman will use the #87, a quantity he has raced with all through his profession and holds particular significance for his household.
“I’m going to make use of 87, that is confirmed,” he defined. “I did not get to decide on my quantity in Jeddah. And to start with, even when I did, that was the final of my worries!
“It [#87] is the quantity that I raced for the reason that starting and it is the quantity that my dad raced with – as a result of I am born on the eighth of Could, and my brother on the seventh of August.
“So, 87 is the variety of selection, and that can proceed to be the case.”
Oliver Bearman, Ferrari SF-24
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Whereas Bearman has been tipped for the Haas drive for some time, he stated he solely obtained the ultimate nod after final weekend’s Austrian GP.
“Actually, till it was lastly confirmed after the Crimson Bull Ring on Sunday, as a result of in F1 till you place a pen on a bit of paper, it is probably not official,” he stated.
“I knew that it was what we have been working in direction of, and that we have been just about getting there for some time. However you may by no means rejoice too quickly, as a result of F1 is a fast-moving world, and also you’re solely pretty much as good as your final race.
“I used to be, after all, relieved when it lastly took place, and I shared that second with my supervisor, who’s been with me all the best way, and that was fairly an emotional second.”
Bearman additionally stated that reflections of the journey he has made to get to F1 prompted him to rewatch a video that Hamilton despatched him nearly a decade in the past.
Requested about racing Hamilton subsequent yr, Bearman stated: “It is loopy. And truly, I used to be trying again, and I acquired a video from him in like, 2015, or 16, saying “hold pushing, hopefully you can also make it to F1 sooner or later.” And right here I’m.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff, Oliver Bearman, Scuderia Ferrari
Photograph by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
“It is loopy to share the monitor with these guys who I watch racing. Even Fernando [Alonso], it is one thing fairly particular, and it is a pinch your self second, as a result of these guys are, in my eyes, big stars and somebody that I look as much as. And it is fairly superb that I will share the circuit with them.”
Bearman stated the video from Hamilton had come about by means of a pal of his household.
“I feel he [Hamilton] met one among my mum’s mates or one thing like this, and she or he obtained him to make a video. It was like essentially the most superb day of my life. After which I simply really obtained reminded of it yesterday, I noticed the video once more, and it was a humorous second.”