Oliver Bearman produced a standout performance last weekend in Zandvoort, charging from a pitlane start to secure sixth place in the Dutch Grand Prix – the best result of his fledgling Formula 1 career and a huge boost for Haas.
The young Briton, who had qualified 19th after struggling in Saturday’s session, was forced to begin his race from the pitlane after changes were made to power components on his Vf-25 outside of parc fermé regulations.
But that was hardly a deterrent for Bearman who, along with teammate Esteban Ocon, ran a long first stint on Pirelli’s hard rubber, a gamble that set the stage for an afternoon of calculated risk-taking and sheer determination.
Fighting Through the Field
Bearman admitted that his route to the top six was anything but straightforward, especially in managing his demanding hard tyres across multiple safety car restarts.
"It's been a long time coming, and if you start from the pit-lane, you need a bit of luck to get there," Bearman said, after scoring his first points since Bahrain.
He explained the challenge of tyre management: "The most difficult thing was restarting on the [hard] tyres after every safety car because as the tread gets thinner, it's really difficult to retain temperature in those tyres, and I spent the entire stint within DRS."
"It was good to be there, but it also destroys your tyres, particularly at the front, so I was really holding on for dear life at the end," he added.
The decisive moment came during the final safety car period triggered by a collision between Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli. While Ocon had already pitted, Bearman stopped for medium tyres, rejoining in 11th with fresh rubber and clear opportunities ahead.
But even with the advantage, the Briton still had to fight his way to the flag. "[After] the safety car came out and I had fresh tyres, I was very happy but then flat-spotted them straight away at Turn 1," he revealed.
"It is the annoying thing about this track, there is a crest going down the main straight, so if you brake on that, your tyre gets flat-spotted, so for the last few laps, I was really holding on with vibrations."
Despite the difficulties, Bearman climbed to seventh on the road, later promoted to sixth after Antonelli’s time penalty, eclipsing his previous best of seventh when he made his Ferrari debut in Saudi Arabia last year.
Eyes on Monza
With momentum on his side, Bearman is now relishing the chance to compete at one of Formula 1’s most iconic venues: Monza.
“I’m looking forward to returning to Italy personally as I love the country, the culture and the Tifosi are amazing. It’s another ‘home race’ with our Design Office in Maranello, and lots of our team are coming to visit over the weekend so I want to make them proud," he said.
His record at the Temple of Speed gives further cause for optimism.
“I have a good track record at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, winning in 2023 and 2024, so I only have good feelings about this race.”
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