Photo credits: Ollie Bearman Instagram.
At just 19, Oliver “Ollie” Bearman is already a name on the lips of Formula 1 fans worldwide. The British racing prodigy, now a full-time driver for Haas in the 2025 season, has made Monaco his home—a move that reflects both practicality and ambition. As he prepares to line up against legends like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the season opener in Melbourne this Sunday, Bearman’s story reveals a blend of talent, discipline, and a grounded approach that fuels his meteoric rise. So, what are the secrets behind his success, and how does his new life in Monaco fit into the picture?
Bearman’s journey began far from the glitz of Monaco, in Chelmsford, England, where he was born in 2005. Karting at age eight sparked a passion that quickly turned into promise, with national and continental titles piling up. By 2021, at just 16, he left home to chase his dreams, joining the Ferrari Driver Academy in Italy after dominating both the Italian and ADAC Formula 4 Championships with Van Amersfoort Racing. That year, he became the first driver to win both titles in a single season, racking up 17 victories—a feat that showcased his raw speed and relentless work ethic.
Photo credits: Ollie Bearman Instagram.
Success, for Bearman, isn’t just about talent; it’s about self-improvement. “I just want to improve my level, be very critical in terms of my own performance,” he told Reuters last month after pre-season testing in Bahrain. “That’s really the best way to be.” This introspective mindset has carried him through the junior ranks—third in Formula 3 in 2022 with Prema, then sixth in Formula 2 in 2023 with four wins—and into F1. His debut last year, standing in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, made history: at 18, he became Ferrari’s youngest-ever rookie, finishing seventh and holding off Hamilton and Lando Norris. Two more stand-in races for Haas in 2024, in Azerbaijan and São Paulo, added to his tally, with points scored in two of his three outings.
Now, as he embarks on his first full F1 season, Bearman’s move to Monaco feels like a natural step. The principality, a hub for motorsport stars. “There’s plenty of more well-known athletes and nobody knows me, which is great,” he said, savoring the anonymity he still enjoys despite his 2.4 million Instagram followers. Having lived in Italy since 2021, England hasn’t been home for years, and Monaco’s proximity to Ferrari’s Maranello base, just a few hours’ drive away, keeps him connected to his roots in the Scuderia’s Driver Academy.
Photo credits: Ollie Bearman Instagram.
Living in Monaco also means training alongside the elite. Bearman has taken to cycling on the corniche roads with Tadej Pogačar, the three-time Tour de France champion. “When he’s up to be bored and cycle slowly with me, he drags me along,” he quipped, revealing a humility that balances his confidence on the track. These rides aren’t just for fun—they’re part of a rigorous fitness regime that keeps him sharp for F1’s grueling 24-race calendar.
Bearman’s secret weapon, though, might be his ability to juggle fame with a “normal” life—a balance he’s determined to maintain. “I’m still very lucky that I can get away with living a normal life,” he said. “So I’m making sure to make the most of it while I still can.” In Monaco, where celebrities are commonplace, he can blend in, free from the constant scrutiny that follows drivers elsewhere. Yet he’s clear-eyed about the trade-off: “Hopefully, my performances are good enough to enable me to be well-known. But of course, losing privacy is never fun.”
On the track, Bearman’s focus remains inward. With only three races under his belt—compared to teammate Esteban Ocon’s 156 starts—he considers himself a rookie in experience, if not in title. “In a way I’m not a rookie but I would still consider myself a rookie,” he admitted. The Haas car’s potential is uncertain after a solid but unspectacular pre-season, leaving him to measure success against himself rather than rivals. “I just have to look within and be very self-critical and try and improve myself as much as possible throughout the year,” he explained—a mantra that’s propelled him from Chelmsford to Monaco and now to Melbourne.
Photo credits: Ollie Bearman Instagram.
His move to Monaco - it’s a strategic base for a career on the cusp of greatness. For now, this teen ace is savoring the calm before the storm, blending F1’s dizzying heights with the quiet streets of Monte-Carlo. If his past is any indication, success will come not from luck, but from the same drive that’s defined him since day one.