Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Bearman was 's******' himself battling Verstappen in Mexico

00:39, 27 Oct

Updated: 00:40, 27 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Oliver Bearman was ecstatic to battle Max Verstappen in Mexico.

"Honestly I was s****** myself going side by side with Max, but it's really cool to go will to will with these people that I've been watching since I started watching F1."

- Oliver Bearman

The British driver achieved a career-best fourth place at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Bearman was running third after Lewis Hamilton's 10-second time penalty. At one point, the rookie through a podium could be on the cards today.

He said: "Yes. At points on that medium, from what we understood, I was bringing that tyre to the end until I got called to box.

"I need to look back at exactly what happened. I think in our position, it would have been a bit risky trying to stay out and go for the podium and potentially finish sixth or seventh.

"I think we did the right choice by consolidating even if it maybe stopped us from having the chance of a podium. We finished fourth still, so it's not bad."

Bearman achieved a season-best result for Haas - Photo: Race Pictures

He continued: "I had a good start. I slotted myself between the two Mercedes I think and then actually in those laps I had good pace. I was able to stay in DRS, George [Russell] lost DRS to the car ahead."

Bearman also had a great view of Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's hard-fought battle into Turn 4. The rookie suddenly found himself alongside the Dutchman in exiting Turn 5.

"I benefited from that too. Honestly I was s****** myself going side by side with Max, but it's really cool to go will to will with these people that I've been watching since I started watching F1.

"I had him in my mirrors for a long time, so it was probably the most pressure I've ever had in a race scenario," he concluded.

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