“I was scared shitless going wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen”

Oliver Bearman kept his cool on the track, but his performance at the Mexican Grand Prix was anything but subdued.

After a standout Saturday, the young British driver faced the toughest challenge of the weekend—and rose to it with grit and grace. Racing for Haas, Bearman crossed the finish line in fourth place, climbing five spots in a gutsy comeback that earned him “Driver of the Day” honors. Along the way, he battled world champions—including Max Verstappen—in what became the most impressive race of his Formula 1 career so far.

“I had a good start. I think I slotted in between the two Mercedes,” Bearman told reporters. “I kept a solid pace early on and stayed within DRS range. George [Russell] lost DRS on the car ahead, and then Hamilton and Max [Verstappen] had a bit of a tangle, which worked in my favor.”

That early drama at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez catapulted Bearman into podium contention. Though he hadn’t expected to be fighting at the front, he seized the opportunity—overtaking Verstappen and holding his own against the reigning champion as the laps ticked by.

Wheel-to-wheel with a champion

“The pressure was unreal,” Bearman admitted. “Honestly, I was scared out of my mind going wheel-to-wheel with Max. But it’s amazing to race against guys I’ve watched since I first got into F1. He was in my mirrors for a long time. It was probably the most intense pressure I’ve ever felt in a race.”

Though a podium finish was within reach, Bearman and Haas opted for a tire change to avoid risking a late-race drop due to degradation. It was a strategic call that secured fourth place—matching the best result in Haas team history.

“There were moments when I was pushing that tire to the absolute limit,” Bearman explained. “I need to go back and review exactly what happened, but I think staying out would’ ve been risky. We might’ve gone for the podium and ended up sixth or seventh. I think we made the right call to consolidate.”

A star on the rise

Bearman’s performance in Mexico wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a statement. In a race packed with champions and high-stakes drama, the 19-year-old proved he belongs among the elite. “Fourth place isn’t bad at all,” he said with a smile, backing Haas’s strategy in what he called “the best race of my life—so far.”

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