P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Quite the feeling for Oliver Bearman knowing he will be racing full-time this year against one of his heroes , and a man whose racing boots he could one day fill at Ferrari.
Oliver Bearman can only imagine what Lewis Hamilton experienced on his first day at Ferrari – even though it was a situation he had previously savoured, albeit in far different circumstances. Hamilton’s first day at Maranello in January was a stand-out moment of the closed season, with an iconic photograph becoming the most-liked F1 Instagram post ever. Hamilton was dressed impeccably, standing in front of Enzo Ferrari’s house with his favorite supercar, the F40.
Hamilton spent the day meeting countless individuals behind the scenes at Ferrari, setting the stage for a potential record eight-time title win. For Bearman, starting his F1 journey with Haas after the Ferrari Academy, the experiences differed greatly. Bearman recalled his first day at Ferrari as a 15-year-old F4 driver and was in awe of the team’s history and scale of operation.
While Bearman acknowledges Hamilton’s unmatched achievements, he is determined to pursue his dream of becoming an F1 world champion. Although he doesn’t expect to emulate Hamilton, sharing the grid with the iconic driver and receiving occasional advice has been meaningful. Bearman appreciates Hamilton’s kindness and values the shared experiences and conversations with the seven-time F1 champion.
