Oliver Bearman admits there was a way of reduction when he lastly signed his Haas contract earlier this week as a result of he felt his System 2 outcomes left a query mark over his future.
Haas confirmed Bearman as considered one of its race drivers for 2025 on Thursday morning on the British Grand Prix, with the 19-year-old singing a multi-year contract. Forward of an FP1 look at his house race alongside his F2 duties, Bearman admits the robust season he’s had to this point in F2 — sitting 14th within the standings and together with his first win solely coming in Austria final weekend — had raised some private doubts till his deal was finalized.
“I felt like I’ve been performing effectively for the reason that starting in free practices, and clearly each time I’ve pushed with Haas, I did the post-season take a look at in Abu Dhabi, I’ve all the time obtained out of the automobile feeling like I’ve put in picture of myself,” Bearman mentioned. “I carried out in a method that I used to be pleased with, which is vital to me. I knew that if I proceed to try this, hopefully I’d do sufficient to get an F1 seat. I’m glad that it’s confirmed and it’s lastly the case.
“Actually, [I wasn’t certain] till it was lastly confirmed after Purple Bull Ring on Sunday, as a result of you understand in F1, till you set a pen on a chunk of paper, it’s probably not official. So I knew that it was, we had been working in direction of it, and we had been just about getting there for some time. However you possibly can by no means rejoice too quickly, as a result of F1 is a fast-moving world and also you’re solely pretty much as good as your final race.
“I used to be after all relieved when it lastly took place, and I shared that second with my supervisor, who has been with me all the way in which. That was fairly an emotional second.”
Bearman believes his efficiency as a late substitute for Carlos Sainz on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix earlier this 12 months was essential to convincing each Haas and Ferrari of his capabilities for a full seat.
“I do really feel just like the F1 operating carried numerous weight. After all the race in Saudi, initially, however even in my free practices and all my testing, it’s all the time been going fairly effectively,” Bearman mentioned. “That for me carried a bit extra weight. I feel for the people who mattered, it additionally carried a bit extra weight. However there’s no method of hiding behind the truth that in F2, it continues to be somewhat bit tougher, and that all the time leaves a query mark at the back of your thoughts.
“I feel the Saudi efficiency was actually the celebs aligning second that made my step into F1 potential. As a result of I feel with out that, it could actually have been troublesome, particularly with the way it’s going in the meanwhile. So that basically, actually helped me. And likewise for my very own confidence, since you by no means actually know the way you’re going to carry out till you race in opposition to actual F1 drivers, and that was my alternative and I felt like I did an honest job.”
