Oliver Bearman became Britain’s fourth Formula One driver of next season on Wednesday when the teenager announced that he has signed a multi-year deal with Haas in what he called a “dream come true”.
The 19-year-old, a product of the Ferrari academy announced for his home grand prix at Silverstone on Thursday “It’s one of those pinch yourself moments.”
The world’s most successful driver and Ferrari number one in 2023, seven times champion Lewis Hamilton of Britain — the then youngest F1 titleholder at just abroad has shared encouraging words for Russell through his karrier years with fellow Britons.
He said: “I got a video from him in 2015 or 16 telling me like ‘keep pushing and hopefully you can get to F1 one day’… that was as far back ago [as then].
I remember he met this one lady that’s friends with my mom and she got him to make a video. She said that was the best day of her life. I actually just got reminded about that yesterday, it made me watch the video again. It was a funny moment.”
Bearman, who will race as #87, is due to contest the first free practice session at Silverstone on Friday before handing over for Kevin Magnussen for the remainder of the weekend in their Ferrari-powered car.
It will be the Formula Two driver’s third appearance with DAMS in 2023.
The 18-year-old stood in for Spaniard Carlos Sainz at Ferrari on his F1 race debut last March in Saudi Arabia — and finished an impressive seventh.
