Bearman admits feeling ‘imposter syndrome’ on F1 debut

F1 rookie Oliver Bearman has revealed that stepping making his Formula 1 debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Ferrari wasn’t just a dream come true - it was also a moment of deep self-doubt.

The 19-year-old rookie has admitted to feeling “imposter syndrome” when he replaced Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined due to appendicitis, at short notice in Jeddah.

At the time, Bearman, who was racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema, genuinely questioned whether he deserved to be on the grid with the Scuderia and whether he would be up to the task entrusted to him by the Italian outfit.

Despite his nerves, Bearman answered those questions emphatically. With just one practice session to prepare, he delivered a composed and outstanding performance, finishing seventh on race day, just behind Mercedes’ George Russell and ahead McLaren’s Lando Norris.

“In your first F1 race, you always have questions whether you’re actually good enough,” Bearman confessed in an interview with the Financial Times.

“It’s a bit of imposter syndrome, where you feel, ‘Do I really belong here? Have I really got what it takes?’

“Having done the race in Jeddah, I knew those questions were answered. I have my seat for next year.”

• Read also: Vasseur not ruling out a Ferrari-Sainz reunion in the future

Bearman’s remarkable debut was the first chapter in a whirlwind season that saw the Briton achieve a feat unprecedented in Formula 1’s modern era: scoring points with two different teams in the same year.

After his Ferrari heroics in Jeddah, Bearman was called upon twice more by Haas, stepping in for Kevin Magnussen in Baku and in Sao Paulo due to the Dane’s one-race ban and illness, respectively.

In Azerbaijan, the teenage charger impressed once again, finishing tenth and securing a point for Haas. His ability to adapt to different teams and cars under pressure underscored his talent and earned him praise as one of the brightest prospects on the grid.

It also sealed his near-term future in F1.

“This year has been quite strange and unexpected in terms of my F1 appearances,” he said. “No reserve driver goes into a year expecting to race, simply because it’s such a rare opportunity.

“The fact that I’ve got two of those opportunities, I can’t help but realize how lucky I am. But the important thing is that, with those two opportunities, I really grasped them with both hands and made the most of them.

“I gave performances to be proud of and managed to stand out. But I don’t think it will change my life.”

With a full-time seat at Haas awaiting him in 2025, Bearman’s unexpected F1 stints this year have provided invaluable experience as he prepares for the challenges ahead.

“I just want to perform well and keep improving,” he concluded. “The opportunities I’ve had this year were incredible, but the real work begins now.”

From overcoming imposter syndrome to making history, Bearman’s remarkable entry into F1 sets the stage for a promising career at the pinnacle of motorsport.

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