It\u2019s Haas rookie Ollie Bearman\u2019s turn to face our Getting to Know quickfire questions as we head into the summer break. From amusing driving test tales to the F1 legends he would bring to a dinner party, and the person who last made him cry with laughter to the sports he is keen to master, the Briton reveals all in the video player above and transcript below\u2026<\/p>\n
Can you describe yourself in three words?<\/p>\n
Fast \u2013 I hope! Determined. And kind.<\/p>\n
What made you fall in love with F1?<\/p>\n
I remember before I started karting, before anything, I would go to some of my dad\u2019s [David] races. He was racing at club level in the UK. The smell of the rubber and the fuel, I fell in love with it straight away. I knew this was what I wanted to do.<\/p>\n
What level did your dad get to in racing?<\/p>\n
He was racing like sportscars in the UK. Nothing crazy. Unfortunately, he couldn\u2019t afford to really do anything more. That was when I was maybe five or six years old. I remember going there with my mum, and my mum would get so stressed watching him! But I loved the sound, the smell and the speed of the cars. That was really the beginning for me.<\/p>\n
When and where did you first drive something?<\/p>\n
So, the first time I drove\u2026 I think\u2026 you\u2019ll have to fact-check with my parents who were actually there! I was six years old\u2026 and it was at Buckmore Park. I was just learning how to go and stop in a circle and this guy kept crashing into the back of me \u2013 that\u2019s the only thing I remember from that day! I learnt how to stop, but the guy behind me certainly didn\u2019t\u2026 he was using my bumper as a brake.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a lot of competition with this question\u2026 How many times did it take you to pass your driving test?<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t pass my driving test the first time. Basically, what happened was\u2026 well, it\u2019s a bit embarrassing, but you know those stop signs? You have to stop at them\u2026 and still to this day I say that I stopped, but the instructor seemed to think that I was creeping, so I failed. The road was downhill and then it stopped, and I was creeping. Then the other thing, because I failed it on two things, you know those hatch lines that you can\u2019t drive into? Well, it turns out you can drive into them if you\u2019re turning right, and that was a very specific rule that I didn\u2019t know, because I thought I was too good to have any driving lessons! I went straight in for the test.<\/p>\n
But you passed at the second attempt?<\/p>\n
Second time I passed, of course, but that was a very embarrassing story.<\/p>\n
When was the last time you cried with laughter?<\/p>\n
Let me think\u2026 one I remember that was really funny\u2026 I laugh a lot I guess! When I was at home a few weeks ago, I was having breakfast with my family and my brother [Thomas] said something so funny that I was literally crying. Sometimes when I start laughing I really can\u2019t stop and that was one of those moments.<\/p>\n
Cereal going everywhere?<\/p>\n
No, it was\u2026 he didn\u2019t spill anything, but my brother sometimes comes out with some amazing jokes that he doesn\u2019t even realise, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s doubly funny.<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s your best friend inside the F1 paddock? You\u2019re going to upset someone with this answer…<\/p>\n
(Laughs). I would say Gabi Bortoleto. We live very close [to each other], we see each other a lot and spend a lot of time together. He\u2019s a great guy. We fight on track and laugh off the track as well.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll be pleased to know that Gabi said you<\/a> as well\u2026<\/p>\n Really? Ahh.<\/p>\n You and Max Verstappen\u2026<\/p>\n I\u2019ll take that! That\u2019s good.<\/p>\n Which three F1 personalities past or present would you invite to a dinner party and why?<\/p>\n Probably Ayrton Senna<\/a>. He\u2019s someone that I really look up to. I\u2019m sad to have never been able to watch any of his races. Michael Schumacher<\/a> as well. His success at Ferrari looked incredible, and his work ethic and passion for the sport is admirable. I would say Lewis Hamilton<\/a>, but I can speak to him sometimes as well if I want, so I would go back to the very beginning and say someone like [Giuseppe] Farina<\/a>. Someone from the very, very start, just to see what they went through.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the best holiday you\u2019ve been on?<\/p>\n Well, I haven\u2019t been on it yet, but at the end of the year I\u2019m going to the Maldives, so I think that will be the best. Until then, I would say last year, at the end of the year, when I went to Japan for a few days. It was just me, my mum and my girlfriend, and it was really, really fun. It was freezing cold, but it was so fun \u2013 we had a blast!<\/p>\n The Maldives sound great as well\u2026<\/p>\n Yeah, it sounds a bit warmer!<\/p>\n What would your karaoke song be? I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s a thing at Haas\u2026<\/p>\n Oh\u2026 I guess Livin\u2019 on a Prayer by Bon Jovi.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your favourite film and TV show of all time? I imagine you get some time to watch things on flights\u2026<\/p>\n Yeah, exactly, I do watch a lot. Favourite film? F1 The Movie\u2026<\/p>\n Very good, very good\u2026<\/p>\n I would say I really like Top Gun, and The Shawshank Redemption is a great film as well. Not more that I can think of right now. At the moment I\u2019m watching Suits for like the third time. I also really enjoyed Breaking Bad and Prison Break. Those are three great series.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the strangest gift you\u2019ve ever been given by a fan?<\/p>\n The first time I got a teddy bear I was a bit confused, then I realised it\u2019s because of my surname. I wouldn\u2019t say strange. My fans are incredibly thoughtful and kind, and they always give great gifts. I have a big collection at home!<\/p>\n You keep a lot of them then?<\/p>\n Yeah. I give away the teddy bears, so I\u2019m very popular with the family!<\/p>\n What\u2019s the best advice you\u2019ve ever received?<\/p>\n Lefty loosey, righty tighty. Like tightening bolts, it\u2019s always important to do the right one\u2026<\/p>\n Simple but effective\u2026<\/p>\n Exactly!<\/p>\n Which other job do you wish you could try for a day?<\/p>\n You know, I wish I could be a football player. I wish I could kick a football! That sounds incredible. Or a cyclist. I try to cycle but I\u2019m not good enough. One day, I wish I\u2019ll have the power to cycle like a professional and make them suffer. Now, when I cycle with good cyclists I\u2019m dying and they\u2019re talking to me like they\u2019re sitting down, and it\u2019s really embarrassing. I want to flip that and be a great cyclist. I would be a cyclist.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your proudest moment in F1 so far? I remember interviewing you over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend in 2024 \u2013 that amazing Ferrari debut<\/a>. I imagine it\u2019s toward the top of the list, but you\u2019ve had some special moments\u2026<\/p>\n Yeah, there\u2019ve been some standout moments. I was really happy with Saudi, of course. But this year we\u2019ve had a few good races. Bahrain was a great one where I was fighting from the back and managed to score points. There\u2019ve also been a few races where I felt like I performed really well but didn\u2019t quite have everything to show for it \u2013 Monaco was an example of that. Also Imola\u2026 these are races where I felt like I\u2019ve been driving really well with nothing to show for it. Saudi is definitely my best moment so far, but hopefully there\u2019s something that goes above that.<\/p>\n