Bearman follows in Verstappen's footsteps — even on vacation

11:45, 20 Aug

byLudo van Denderen

Oliver Bearman is reminiscent of Max Verstappen. When this Haas F1 driver is on holiday, he similarly pushes with the same passion as the quadruple world champion.

When Max Verstappen has time, he enjoys being on a racetrack somewhere in the world. By now, the story of his alter ego Franz Hermann is known, with whom he reportedly broke the lap record on the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring.

Oliver Bearman was also recently found on a circuit during his well-deserved vacation; under his own name, but no less ambitious than Verstappen. Near his holiday home in Sweden was a short race track where the British rookie spent several days trying to claim the very sharp lap record under his name.

Oliver Bearman races outside the F1 just as eagerly as Max Verstappen

A serious matter for Bearman

That Bearman just happened to be on holiday near a circuit was a coincidence - he explains after questions from GPblog.

“It was a coincidence. Well, actually, they told me that they had a track nearby. So of course, I was excited to go to Sweden for a while.”

“And my girlfriend's family were like, ‘look, you have to beat the lap record’ and ‘I was like yeah come on it'll be easy.’ Then on the first day I was like 3 or 4 tenths off so then on the final day we put new tires and did it properly and then it was good. Set the pressures as well, dropping the pressure off every run it was a serious quest.”

Eventually Bearman succeeded in clocking the fastest time ever on the circuit. With some help, that is: "I had a guy actually also, someone was slipstreaming me in the straight and then moving out of the way at the last minute so I could do the lap. It was like really top level."

Bearman has since left Sweden, but the memories and photos are still there. "So I got photos of me and my girlfriend taking fuel out of the karts to try and make it light. I was like cooling down the engine between runs with a leaf blower. It was really top level stuff."