This Is What I Was Born To Do – Bearman 'living The Dream' In F1
LONDON, May 20 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) - British driver Oliver Bearman says he is 'living the dream' in Formula 1 as the youngster widely tipped as a future Ferrari star gears up for the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, PA Media/dpa reported.
Bearman, 20, was thrust into the F1 spotlight in March 2024 when he was parachuted into Carlos Sainz's Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after the Spaniard was struck by appendicitis.
The London-born Ferrari academy driver took to it like a duck to water, finishing seventh on debut – one which Lewis Hamilton called 'incredible' – and was also called into action twice more last season when deputising for Kevin Magnussen at Haas.
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His performances were enough to earn him a permanent seat with the American team for this season and a chance to fulfil his childhood ambitions.
'Of course I am living the dream and this is what I was born to do,' Bearman told the PA news agency.
'I am really happy to be here and if I can pass on some of that happiness and motivation to the team members, then I am doing my job well.'
Bearman admits his maiden full F1 season is still throwing up 'pinch-me moments', as he competes with drivers he grew up watching – such as seven-time world champion Hamilton and the evergreen 43-year-old Fernando Alonso.
'In the heat of the moment you do not think about who is in the car, you just think about trying to overtake that car,' Bearman added.
'But it is special looking back that I have been following these guys my entire life and now I am sharing the track with them, it's a really nice feeling.'
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