2023 Formula 2 driver Ollie Bearman has already been tipped as a title contender in his debut season. Is Bearman the next British superstar?
Seventeen-year-old Oliver (Ollie) Bearman from Chelmsford, UK has already made the headlines following an impressive rookie season in the 2022 Formula 3 Championship racing for PREMA Powerteam. In November, it was announced Bearman would be stepping up into Formula 2 with the Italian team. Following in the footsteps of fellow Brits Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris. Bearman is hoping to become the next British national to race in Formula 1.
Who is Bearman?
Bearman made his karting debut in 2013. After seven years and five karting championships, he made his single-seater debut in 2020 – racing in the Italian and the ADAC Formula 4 Championships. After finishing tenth and seventh in those series, respectively, Bearman would go on to take both championships the following year.
In 2022, Bearman raced part-time in the Formula Regional Asian Championship early on in the year before joining Formula 3. Partnering alongside Arthur Leclerc and Jak Crawford, Bearman started the season off poorly after he picked up a series of time penalties. Despite only taking one victory, Bearman found himself as a title contender but would narrowly miss out on the title by seven points to Victor Martins.
“It took me too long to find my feet, that's why I didn't win the Championship…” 💭@OllieBearman weighs up the successes and failures of his rookie season in #F3 👇#RoadToF1 https://t.co/tCzkxDWsg8
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) October 19, 2022
Following the finale, Bearman participated in the Formula 2 post-season test alongside Frederick Vesti for PREMA. The two have their seats confirmed for the 2023 season and despite PREMA finishing the 2022 season fourth in the standings, are hoping to battle for both championships.
Bearman is young and could perhaps race in Formula 2 for several seasons before making the step up to Formula 1. Backed by the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2021 it’s clear he has both the talent and the finances to go a long way. With the aging Hamilton set to depart the sport in the next few years, could Bearman take his place as the next Brit on the grid?
