P1 with Matt and Tommy - Ollie Bearman on the P1 podcast!

Episode Date: July 18, 2025

We were delighted to sit down with Haas F1 driver Ollie Bearman at Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend! We spoke about the highs and lows of the season so far, his journey into F1, who he's closet with on the grid, his favourite F1 memes and loads more. You can listen to an extended version of every Race Review this season over on our Patreon! You'll also access to every P1 episode ad-free, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommyFollow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the B1 podcast with myself, Matt, Tommy and Olly Berman. Yes, that is right. Formula One driver on the podcast once again and none other than has to drive. Olly Berman. How are you doing, man? Very good. Very happy to be here. Thanks for coming on. It's been a busy few weeks in the UK, but the weather's treating us. And now you've got to do this. But this is going to be as good. I mean, this was really when I found out was my highlight of Goodwood of the week at Silverstone. Stop it. Stop it.

It was fantastic. I'm excited to be here. Amazing. Thanks for coming on, man. So we've got loads of questions from both ourselves and fans, as of course Formula One cars and drum and bass, everything it starts. A lot of vibes going on here, so hopefully the audio will be okay. So let's start straight away. Let's dive straight into. We've got so many questions. First comes from Lexaban underscore. So last week at Silverstone, how did it feel to be the last rookie standing in such challenging conditions? Yeah, I mean, it was a race of a challenge.

I think. I had like two or three people go off in front of me and I think it was just showing how slippery that track was and even in some places it looked dry but it was very deceiving because it certainly wasn't it was very slippery so it's always a big challenge and I think that's where experience really comes in and it was a similar story in in Australia where we lost quite a few rookies luckily I managed to finish both of those races both times not in the points so you know I'm doing one thing right to finish but but so close to the points yeah How tempted were you to go on the drys? Because there were a few that risked it for the chocolate biscuit at the start. Yeah, well, I did, I did. Oh, of course you did, yeah. It didn't work.

Didn't work. So we tried that, it doesn't work. So next time I'll- Did you know immediately, we were like, oh no. You know, I think without the VSCs, because the VSCs really slowed everyone down, and without that, the inters would have eaten themselves up and the slicks would have gotten warmer.

I really think without the VSCs that it would have been faster to be on the slicks, because we were actually faster at the end by some margin. But the thing is, that was obviously going to be VSC. We have a quarter of the grid on Slicks on that track. So that's the thing that we didn't account for. Nice.

Speaking of rookies, this question from Leonad 44, so far, what's been the best thing and the worst thing about being a rookie in F1? Well, I mean, the best thing is that you get to drive Formula One. That's not bad, I would say. It sounds good. Pretty good. No, I'm loving it. And of course, I was doing a few experiences in F1 last year.

I did a few races. you may remember. I did lots of free practices and then I was just really jealous of everyone who got to do that full time. So you know getting back in my F2 car was always a big shame. Now this year I get to do what I love every single day so it's amazing and you know driving that car is simply incredible. That car actually that exact car right there that's my car. It's even got my number on it so it is mine. That car right there it's amazing to drive and I'm really loving every moments, especially, you know, Silverstone with those home fans was an incredible experience. Probably the worst part, I think it's a bit early to say that there's anything bad about this

job. You know, there are times that I find it quite busy and my social battery gets drained just because you have to, you know, do these annoying podcasts. Yeah, yeah. Nice. You have to interact with a lot of people, not only the engineers, but also the fans and stuff. And I think there's a way of doing it and kind of keeping your energy high, but I'm still learning how to do that. And often I get to the end of a Thursday and even a Friday really, absolutely destroyed, not from the driving, but from the amount of fans and engineers that I have to speak to. So on one side, it's amazing to have this support, but on the other side, I need to find the way of, yeah, not being destroyed at the end of before the weekend's even started. So many words, so many words said probably over those days.

Yeah, exactly. Question from Devanchk 0809. Do the Rook, do the Rook? Do the Rook have a group chat, so outside of the GPDA one. Are there any group chats here in? I hate to disappoint you. Unless I'm the one that's the cast away that has been left out, which is a possibility, I don't believe so. There's not like a little rookie group chat like, go. We're not going to reveal that we ask him me and he said yes. If you ask anyone else in the series, I'm going to be in big, big trouble.

So no, I believe there isn't one, but I really hope that is the case and then I'm not being left out. That would be embarrassing. What was it like when you got added to? to that group chat with everyone? Was it a bit tempting to just be like, oh, I wanna throw some memes in there, a meme or two. I actually got added after I did my race in Jeddah last year.

So it was a bit premature, but honestly, I liked watching the drama unfold and seeing what goes on in that group chat. And actually, they do talk about some really pertinent issues and things that we face as drivers. And now, you know, now I'm a driver and I understand really what's going on. It's nice to be in there and see if other people agree

with me or I agree with them and stuff like that. So it's interesting. There's not many memes, unfortunately, but I'll see what I can do to improve. Do you want to pick up your water bottle? It's okay. You don't want it? Okay, all right. I did it on PowerPoint.

So if you hadn't have made it as an F1 drive, would you've been savagely kicked out then? Maybe. But I would have like tried to fly under the radar and stay. Yeah, I guess like when you join a group chat and there's loads of people you maybe have never spoken to. Yeah. Were you like a, hey guys, Ollie here? Or did you just like leave it?

I don't think I was too nervous. I was just some, yeah, 18-year-old, I was like, there's nowhere I'm texting all these F-1 drivers. They're going to kick me straight back out again. If they don't know them there, then it's fine. Speaking of other drivers, Matthew Cole has asked, who's your closest friend in F1? My closest, of the rookies, probably Gabriel Bottoletto. We live really close by, and I spend a lot of time together away from the tracks, which is probably the mark of a good friend.

Kimmy as well, of course, I have a good relationship since we, since we were teammates. Carlos Science as well, we cycle sometimes together. So yeah, I have a good relationship with a lot of the drivers, but I would say those are my closest friends. Oh, mega. It's nice to have some friends, I guess, in that kind of world.

It's good. Because they're the only ones to truly understand what you're going through as well. So you can share experiences and stuff. And you know, when the visor goes down, it's the same. But at least you get to understand what people are going through and their side of the coin, basically. Next up is from Anna Shabo M.

What's your favorite memory with Kimmy and There's obviously that video that going around about Kimmy reading off his lap times, which was insane. We'll get on to that. But is there a favorite memory you have with him? Yeah, we have a lot of good memories. We, I would say when we first, like, had both announced that we were going to be in Formula One, finally. It was a really special moment for both of us, because it, you know, that's something we've been fighting for for our entire lives. And that was a really special and serious moment. And then we've had a lot of funny comedic moments, which maybe, you'll know a little bit about over the year as well.

So we had a great season, honestly, together. So the lap times thing, of course, you were involved in that, where he's just reeling off the lap times. How far does this go? Because it was kind of a short- It goes back to like carting. Yeah.

It's crazy. I can remember bits and bulbs like to the nearest second, but he's like to the nearest 10th. And that's quite impressive. You know like your lap times as well, didn't he? Yeah, yeah. He knows everything. It's pretty impressive.

How did that come up just in conversation at dinner one time? Oh yeah, you did a 1-25. 4.861 and you're like literally and I was like what like I don't remember if we were in the in the 20s or the 30s like I couldn't even tell you well that time I did a silverstone last week so you know that's that's the difference in level that we're working with it's so good uh this one's from ollie 87 so it's you mean a five years so rhetorical question what do f1 drivers talk about with each other on the drivers parade on the drivers parade um well anything but racing actually is actually we just talk rubbish and laugh with each other. I often go and stand with Gabriel or someone

that I know well and have a good laugh about random stuff. What we're doing next week, you know, what we're doing between racing and stuff, what ties they're starting on if I can try and get that in trouble, it's always good. Little trade. So exactly, exactly. Mostly not racing in 1% trying to get some insights. That's funny because I thought it'd be like maybe the opposite. Like when you go out with work friends or ever, you always end up talking about work. It's funny that you do the opposite, if you like. I mean, well, the drives parade in Silverstone was sad for me because everyone was laughing at my pit lane crash.

There you go. There's some work stuff in there. And how did you manage that? Well, I mean, I was laughing on myself as a lot because if you don't laugh, you'll cry, I think, in a situation like that. Oh, bless you. Right, moving away from Silverstone crashes, what's the most unusual gift that you've ever received from a fan? Let me think.

There's so many. There's a few. I mean, today I've got nothing actually. Often I get wristbands, this is one from Silverstone, which are always nice and sweet and purple. Sometimes I get like treats from the region, so when I go to Australia I always get timetams. They give me parsy pigs here, which is fantastic.

I would say the strangest, or not the strangest, but the coolest, was a pair of shoes. Someone got me a pair of shoes. Really nice pair of shoes. Any link to you or like your face? on it or anything like that. They were my size. They were just a really cool pair of shoes.

So the guy was like, oh, I'm going to get your pair of shoes. I was like, no way, that's awesome. Thank you. And next day he arrived, I had a new pair of shoes. I wore them over the weekend. Oh, mega. That's really cool. Awesome.

We've asked this question to every driver we've interviewed, so it can be as silly or realistic as you like. What's the one rule you change in F1 and why? What rule would I change? Yeah. Well, they should do like, reverse grid in quality now that would be fun any reason we struggle a bit in quality but in the race we're flying I think we could

actually win with that no I think good question let me get back to you we can come back to it I mean reverse grids will take that I'd love I'd love that if they could do a top 10 reverse for a sprint race that would be fun yeah like F-Tig yeah speaking of sprints actually because that's something we debate about a lot know are we in a great spot was it better before where it sort of like fed through the entire weekend and it wasn't a separate thing. Where do you stand on sprints?

For me it's difficult because a lot of the places I go to with a sprint, I have to learn the track and everything in one session. And generally as a team, we tend to struggle on Friday. So it doesn't really suit us, as in myself, learning the track and the team, not generally being amazing on Friday to have a qualifying straight away.

But you know, it's good to have more action and more racing. But in my situation, I prefer to have more practice sessions because I need it. Don't say that too loud around him. He hates practice sessions. Oh, sorry, mate. But, you know, a spring weekend is always fun and it reminds me of F2 when I was going straight into quality on Friday. It's interesting for sure.

Questions from P1 Patreon member Quinti. How different is the approach to an F1 race compared to F2? One thing I always remember about or is on my mind about F1. In F2 you get the sprint race to kind of get your eye in and practice the start, the first lab, being close to other cars. Whereas in F1 you only get one shot at it and you have to just get it right so there's actually a lot less racing over an F1 weekend than there is in Formula 2 but I think the thing is you have a bit more time to build it up in F1 with with three practice sessions and that's good but every lap is super important so you know even though in F2 there can

be big gaps because some people have got to grips better than others in F1 the gaps are much smaller but it's everyone is is so close because they're already at a hundred from doing all the practice sessions. So, you know, just by missing a lap or doing a setup change that didn't work out, in my case where I'm still learning everything, it's difficult and you feel like you lose a bit. So I really thought it would be super easy almost having three practice sessions and then going into quality knowing everything. But it just means the level of everyone is so high that there's no margin for error. So that's an interesting thing. And speaking of how you're saying it's really close between everyone. We see that a lot in Q1. Yeah. Can you give us a bit more like

insight from a driver's perspective, why it's so close in Q1? Is it the fact that the top teams aren't pushing to 100% and then the bottom teams are? Well, the thing is that the top teams are trying to get through with using as little tires as possible, right? So they try and do it with one set, some with two sets. Some of the bottom teams, they can use three sets of tires in a Q1 just to try and get through into Q2. So that's where you find a difference because McClaren doing one set and you know even me doing two sets in Silverstone I was able to be as fast as McLaren who did one set so Q1 is always incredibly tight and then the gap spread out because then you get to Q3 and the top teams have two more sets and the bottom teams only have one so that's

why I think it's very tight in Q1 and then gradually it spreads out a bit more hold on who's this you agree with that you did you enjoy that point yeah did about Q1 and all that yeah why it's so tight I have a period I think you on I have a theory. What's your theory? Well, it's the truth, I think. It's because everyone, like, top teams are using one set of tires, and the bottom teams are using up to three sets. So then everyone gets super close.

And when you go from one set to another, you usually improve a lot. Can I put you on the spot? Because we've got a question about you, actually. Oh, here we go. From you will not have the drink. Here we go, you have to share the mic. What's the best thing that you've learned from Esteban so far, Oli? Oh, is the question for me.

Oh, it's just for you. About him. About no pressure. Now he's watching. About great news. before going to... Yeah, music is fantastic. No, I'll do seriously first, and I think it's his feedback. Because at the end, you know, when we drive the car,

we're always learning from each other, and often he'll be doing some corners better than me, and vice versa, and then we kind of learn from each other and push each other forward, and that's expected. I think that's with every driver. But the way he was giving feedback, especially at the start of the year compared to me, was quite impressive in the way he was able to

explain what was happening. Because I was having a similar sensation, sensation, but I had no idea how to tell them what I was feeling because... Can you as an example? What would be something that you would say compared to what Esteban would say? It's just going into a lot more detail because I couldn't translate it from my butt to my voice. To my mouth. Whereas he, I guess with the more you do it, the better you get it. It's very hard with himself. I didn't hear that. Yeah, I think he was very detailed also. So I'm going to get red. So I'm going to, I'm going to shoot. Because then, uh, well, I'm going to

give him kisses. So... I make him nervous. Thanks for stopping by, man. It's good to see you later. See you later, buddy. Well, there you go. We didn't expect that. So that was a lovely little addition from Esteban.

Can you talk us through that call-up that you got from Ferrari? Like how crazy that situation was. You know, I think I've been asked this question like a million times. So this is the last time I'm going to say anything about it, ever. Be that a warning to any journalist who wants to ask me about that day. No, it was of course crazy. I was at lunch in Jeddah, gearing up for an F2 race. I qualified on pole, so I was going to be starting 10th.

And overall, just really looking forward to the weekend. I loved that track and I was on pole, so everything was going really well. Then the name popped up on my manager's phone. And I knew pretty much straight away what was happening because I knew that Carlos wasn't feeling great. And, you know, unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to do the weekend after. He recovered pretty well to win in the next race. But yeah, I got the cool up that he was unfortunately not doing well and had to go for surgery.

And honestly from there, especially, you know, even now, everything happened so quickly that it was just a blur. I almost blacked out in that few hours between getting the cool and getting in the car for FP3 because I had to learn so many things about the car, about procedures, warm-ups. things like that, that I just had an absolute mental overload. I remember I got back after qualifying and I sat like 12 hours.

It was so insane. But the whole weekend was incredible, you know. It was a dream come true, making my debut with Ferrari, finally pushing an F1 car to the limit because I'd only done like two days in F1 prior to that and never really going for it. It's a pretty scary track as well. Yeah, not the easiest to debut at, but honestly the thing I found which was a big difference was how those cars, the top cars like the Ferrari at the time, how different they are to drive

to the midfield cars, you know, because they don't really have much more downforce, but they have more downforce across a wider range of situations, you know? So, for example, that car in traffic feels amazing compared to the car we have now. And actually, I learned a lot from that day that I can help the guys develop that car with because, you know, this car is very good on its day, but then sometimes it can be really unpredictable and scary, whereas those top cars are really predictable, and that's a good trait of those top cars. Yeah, there's a confidence, doesn't it?

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Right, I've been told we've got about five minutes, so we're going to fly through some questions. I'll shorten my answers. No, no, don't be saying that. You're great. We wish we could have more time. Okay, so let's go with this one.

Build your perfect driver, past or present. So, based on the following. Firstly, racecraft. Me. Okay, Olly Beerman. Raw speed. Olli Behrmann? No, I'm not for myself.

I would say Vastappen. Max. Mental strength? Um, I guess Lewis. Adaptability? Max again. And fitness? Maybe Schumacher.

I think he was a pioneer for us in terms of fitness. Yeah, he was. Okay, Tommy. Glush asks, what's your favourite F1 meme? Favorite meme? Um, you know Fred, with a one, Watergun.

That's a good one. I like that one. Well, how's supposed to be good about memes? I have to ask, have you ever stumbled upon an Ollie Bearman thirst trap? And if so, how did you react? Well, actually, my girlfriend gets some of them on her TikTok. And she's like, look at that. Like, what are you doing?

And I was like, no, they're editing me to do these things. You know, like they didn't take a video of me doing things. and then they put music on it and slow it down and I'm like, wow. All I hate watching it. Yeah, yeah, but they love it. Like, yeah, especially if I, like, there's some of me getting undressed and that's, that shouldn't have been found on TikTok anywhere. We're about to say what's the craziest one you've seen, but I'm guessing is it, is it those?

Yeah, probably, somehow they find these topless things of me and I don't like it. I feel like fans don't know that that's actually, like, we'll get to the drivers. because I think when we asked Carlos that, and they found out that Carlos sees them and like you see it as well. They're like, wait, what? Yeah, my friends used to send them to me at the beginning, and now they stop bothering, thank God. There's so many of them.

So, yeah, there is a lot of them, yeah. Dennis Nehut asks, scariest driver to have behind you in a race? No one's scary, but one that you know is going to give you a hard time is Fernando. Whenever I'm starting around Fernando, I know that I'm going to have to get my elbows out big time. because he's a smart fox. Nauty Soap says can you bring Chow back? Everyone absolutely loved it. Yeah that was funny actually in China. That was good. That was a bit bullsy I thought. Did you say it? Well, what are you doing? That's not you but no it was cool. I liked it. It was a cool race you know it was always nice to make some overtakes and I made it interesting. I think

you guys enjoyed it. Yeah. Is it funny when you get back from a race after that and then you find out that that's been playing out to everyone on the radio? Like, oh, I didn't mean for that. But it's part of the job, I guess. Okay, we'll do this last question, which is a good one from P1 patron Ben. Would you rather fight an Ollie Bearman-sized bear or a bear-sized Ollie Bearman? I don't want to fight myself. Full stop.

A bear is actually quite small. I didn't realize. But I searched up how big bears are, like this big compared to me. So the bear is actually smaller than the Ollie Bear's. It would be fine. I'd kill him. I mean, he's over. He'd be like this big version of me.

No, I'll be fine. They'll do. Yeah, Oli Berman, a bear-sized Oli Baman or Oli Baman size. It's a bit of a mind. A bear-sized Oli Bermann said. So it'd be a bear. No, no, screw that. I'd be in big trouble.

What a great question. Right, Oli, thank you so much for coming on the pod. I really appreciate it, my friend. Thanks. And best up for the rest of the season. Thanks a lot. Thanks a lot. Thanks to support.

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