Bearman targets world championship and Ferrari drive

Oliver Bearman has revealed a double ambition to become Formula 1 world champion and drive for Ferrari.

The Briton will drive for Haas in his second F1 race at the Grand Prix of Azerbaijan in Baku on Sunday.

Bearman has replaced Dane Kevin Magnussen, who was banned for the race after exceeding F1’s penalty-point limit.

The 19-year-old signed a multi-year contract at Haas in July and has lofty targets despite being so early in his F1 career.

“I hope that one day I will be fighting for a world championship – my goal in my life is to win an F1 world championship,” Bearman told BBC Sport.

“I’m young, and I have a lot of time ahead of me to hopefully stay within F1 and these are really the early days that I want to enjoy and learn as much as I can.”

At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March, an 18-year-old Bearman became the youngest Briton to start an F1 race as he finished seventh for Ferrari.

He stood in for Carlos Sainz in Jeddah after the Spaniard was diagnosed with appendicitis.

Bearman said his performance was “instrumental” in securing his seat with Haas for 2025 and that’s where his “immediate future lies”.

However, the teenager added Ferrari – who have signed his F1 hero and compatriot Lewis Hamilton for 2025 – hold a special place in his heart, having come through the team’s driver academy.

“They put a lot of trust in me,” said London-born Bearman. “I’m really happy to see Lewis going to Ferrari. It’s a combination that will be hugely successful, I hope.

“I wish him all the best and one day, of course, I would love to be in red as well.”

Bearman was told just a few hours before the final practice session at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that he would replace Sainz, having been in Jeddah competing in the Formula 2 championship.

This time around he has had longer to prepare for a race and acknowledged there will “definitely be some nerves” when he takes to the grid.

“I’ll try and keep the emotions away from it as much as possible, because that makes your life a bit easier,” said Bearman. “But no doubt I’ll be a little bit nervous when those lights are going on.

“My expectation is really not based on results, but more on my personal performance. I just want to get the most out of myself, build up in a measured way, and really use it as a test for next year.”

Bearman also spoke of the sacrifices he and his family have made to fulfil his dreams of becoming a racing driver.

He recalled a time as a child when work on the family home was delayed to enable his parents to purchase a special Christmas present.

“Maybe my mum wasn’t wasn’t so pleased at the time, but my first go-kart, which was from Santa Claus, was really a great gift,” recalled Bearman.

“So it was definitely a worthy sacrifice in my eyes!”

Bearman moved to Modena in Italy when he was 16 to join the the Ferrari academy programme and said it was “very difficult” in the early days because he missed family and friends.

However, his determination to make it in F1 has made him realise he will have to forego other things in life to reach his goals.

“I’m sure it will come with a lot more sacrifices in the future,” said Bearman. “As my friends get older, I’ll be missing their weddings and stuff like that.

“That’s part of life. Racing has always come first and will continue to do. So that’s just kind of the passion and the dedication that you need to succeed.”