Bearman learns from Piastri: 'Showed that preparation is really important'

Oliver Bearman made quite an impression several times last year in Formula 2. It earned him his official debut in Formula 1, albeit in free practice. Bearman considers himself incredibly lucky to have been given the chance to take a seat in an F1 car at Haas. Bearman says he is also learning from the excellent preparation Oscar Piastri made in the run-up to his debut at the highest level.

Bearman won the feature races in Baku, Spain and Monza this year, but ultimately had to settle for sixth in the world championship. In his first F2 year, things were still a bit shaky at times, but we have already seen glimpses of the driver Bearman has the potential to be. In 2024, the title in the step-up class should be the goal.

From there, the still-only 18-year-old hopes for a seat in Formula 1 in 2025. Yet an F2 title is not always a certainty of an immediate place in the top class of motorsport, as Oscar Piastri also had to be patient for a year.

Oscar Piastri

He saw Piastri prepare superbly for his rookie year, something the young Briton is learning from. "He showed that preparation is really important. Once you join F1, you're going up against guys with a lot of races under their belt. Coming in as a rookie is really a difficult job. It's something that we've thought about, and it will be really important."

"Before I start an F1 campaign, I need to be really prepared. Hopefully, that looks like more FP1s and maybe some private testing as well. I don't have any say on that, but in an ideal world that was that would be how I approach an F1 season," he told GPblog and others in Abu Dhabi.