Oliver Bearman pinpoints what he’s ‘lacking’ during his rookie F1 season amid ‘no security’ claim

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Haas driver Oliver Bearman has had a solid start to his Formula 1 career, even if his marquee result is still his debut last year.

The 2025 F1 season is technically Oliver Bearman’s rookie campaign, even if he made three appearances last year.

Bearman starred for Ferrari at short notice in Saudi Arabia last year, finishing seventh, before filling in for Haas twice in 2024 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Interlagos.

This year, Bearman has been up against Esteban Ocon in his intra-team battle at Haas.

Bearman has been quicker than the experienced Frenchman on many occasions, but the drivers’ championship paints a different story.

Ocon is 13th with 28 points, while Bearman sits four positions and 12 points behind the one-time race winner after two-thirds of the campaign.

Nico Rosberg thinks Bearman was harshly penalised for his collision with Carlos Sainz at Monza, which resulted in him picking up two more penalty points and closing in on a one-race ban.

It would be a blow for Bearman to miss a race this year, and the 20-year-old has pinpointed where he needs to improve going into the final eight race weekends of the year with his 2026 seat already confirmed.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know

Oliver Bearman admits he’s ‘lacking consistency’ during his maiden Formula 1 season

Bearman was asked on the Quadcast podcast whether he still feels like he needs to prove his position on the grid with each race, or if he feels like his results have been good enough to potentially get picked up by another team.

He admitted: “I think, first of all, you’re only really as good as your last race.

“People in F1 and generally in this sport, it’s tough, and people have very short memories, so I think no matter what, if the performance isn’t there, then there’s no security to a certain extent.

“But, I think I’ve shown a lot of good potential and there’s been some real good flashes and I’ve had some good weekends and some strong performances, some good qualifyings and stuff that I’ve been really proud of and said and felt like this is what I am.

“But, there’s also been instances where I’ve shown my lack of experience and lack of discipline, maybe in a few areas, lack of maturity, maybe.

“This is the thing where I’m lacking consistency. So, those good days have been fantastic and I’ve felt like I’ve put a good showing for myself out there, but there’s also been some bad ones where I’m less happy and not as proud of.

“I feel like my hit rate is improving slowly, we’re only 13 [16] races in, so in a way I’m still [in the] very early days, but I think with the potential I’ve shown, I have proven that I deserve to stay in F1.

“I just need to work on these bad days, but that will come step by step.”

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Oliver Bearman looking forward to ‘intense’ Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he set a Formula 2 record

If there’s one circuit where Bearman will feel he can get the better of Ocon, it’s the streets of Baku.

Bearman became the first driver in Formula 2 history to lead every session across a weekend in Azerbaijan in 2023.

The following year, Bearman was called up to replace the banned Kevin Magnussen, and an opportune move on then-teammate Nico Hulkenberg in the final two laps of the race earned him P10 and a well-deserved point.

Bearman impressed Hulkenberg last year, and looking forward to his return to the circuit in Haas’ official pre-race preview, he said: “It’s a really nice feeling coming back to a track I’ve already raced at with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, subbing in last year.

“That weekend – finishing P10 – will stay with me for a long time, and getting to know the team and working with everyone really helped prepare me for this year.

“I’ve won here in junior categories, and love the tight, fast nature of the Baku City Circuit. It’s an intense lap to master, but when you get it right, there’s no better feeling.”