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Oliver Bearman Effect: How Did the 18-Year-Old Rookie Become a Saviour for ”Boring” Formula 1

Published 03/12/2024, 6:27 AM EDT

Recently, I posted a reel of Oliver Bearman’s bold move and his father’s viral reaction on my Instagram. The edit did well before the race, however, post the P7 finish of the British rookie it just blew up. The 8000 shares and hundreds of comments are ONLY talking about how wonderful the debut was. That led me to wonder if The Oliver Bearman Effect is a thing. Is he the Lisan Al Gaib of Formula 1, who is suffering from Max Verstappen‘s success?

Last year Ollie Bearman first shot to fame in mainstream motorsport, captivating the audience when he executed a clean sweep at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The then F2 rookie Bearman controlled the race from the pole and won both the Sprint and Feature race that weekend. We knew the kid meant business. However, it wasn’t until his accidental F1 debut that the world understood his greatness.

Why does Oliver Bearman need to save the sport?

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The season began at an all-time low for 9 teams because their biggest threat had gotten even stronger. This just meant that Verstappen and the beastly machine underneath him were already declared winners with ONLY one race in. The audience who saw the biggest championship showdown in 2021 has been served with the most expected result ever since. Many viewers and even drivers like Lewis Hamilton have termed the championship boring because there is NO FIGHT FOR THE TOP. To add to that, there aren’t any rookies to look forward to either who could come in and change the game or at least give us some novelty.

Then comes into the picture–Carlos Sainz‘s appendicitis–and overnight, Ollie Bearman got called to drive for the dreamiest team Scuderia Ferrari. Though it was a dream fulfilled, there was now a very big burden on Ollie to bring the car and himself back in one piece and he got the memo.

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The Brit qualified P11 almost knocking out Hamilton and in the race; he did manage to keep two of his compatriots (Lando Norris and Hamilton) at bay. He came home in P7. And the world rejoiced. From being called the worthy successor to Lewis to being looked at as the man who will release us from the shackles of Verstappen’s dominance. The Oliver Bearman Effect has engulfed the F1 world. The fans had something new to talk about and look forward to. Many seem eager to see him in F1. But realistically, what does the future hold for him?

What does the future look like for Oliver Bearman?

“Always staying calm and focused, no matter what happens externally. A good personality as well outside of the car because it’s important,” said Bearman in his Formula 3 days. And that is exactly what he has to do now. With a 2 week long break before we go to Australia, Sainz will be a fit and healthy man again with no room for the Britton to drive the SF-24 again, it won’t happen next year as well because of obvious reasons.

All eyes are now on Bearman because as many as 13-14 drivers will be out of contract this year. Newly Appointed TP of Haas, Ayao Komatsu told Sky Sports on Saturday, “Last year when we ran him in FP1 sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi straight away, it was obvious that he’s a total package. He’s so impressive.”

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However, having been around the sport and its facets for so long, Ferrari TP Frederic Vasseur made a pragmatic submission. He said, “I think the best way to help him is not to draw a conclusion from today. OK, we have to take it easy, that he will have other opportunity during the season to do FP1, to test the car, and we will do it properly, the main focus is and will stay the F2 this season he has a huge challenge that I will keep in mind. Also, he did the pole position, and we killed the weekend for him in F2! But he has a huge challenge in F2 and it’s the primary challenge of his season.”

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If you look at the glass half empty, there are 2 F2 champions in waiting already with the ‘promotion’ rate not so high. It is a scary thought when you think of the future. However, since I am a glass-half-full kinda girl, I’d say One way or another, the kid will reach Formula 1. I mean, he has the biggest example in his countryman, Lewis Hamilton.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EssentiallySports.

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Written by:

Anmol is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports. With a background in journalism and a passion for motorsports, she brings a unique perspective to her coverage of the world of F1. Anmol's interest in the sport was piqued after watching Lewis Hamilton's interview with David Letterman, and she has been a dedicated follower ever since.

Edited by:

Akash Pandhare

Oliver Bearman Effect: How Did the 18-Year-Old Rookie Become a Saviour for ”Boring” Formula 1

Why does Oliver Bearman need to save the sport?

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What does the future look like for Oliver Bearman?