Ollie Bearman Shares Verstappen's Signature Trait for Speed

Ollie Bearman possesses a defining trait reminiscent of Max Verstappen: an exceptional ability to handle a car with extreme rear-end instability. This allows the Haas rookie to extract maximum one-lap pace, but his 2025 season highlighted the challenge of translating this raw talent into consistent, error-free weekends. His journey from a mistake-prone first half to a points-scoring second half reveals a driver learning to harness a rare and valuable skill.

Why it matters:

This ability to "drive around the problem" of an unstable car is a hallmark of elite drivers like Verstappen and a key differentiator in modern F1. For a young driver like Bearman, mastering this trait is the difference between being a fast rookie and a future championship contender. It explains his clear qualifying advantage over his more experienced teammate, Esteban Ocon, and showcases his incredibly high potential ceiling.

The details:

• The Verstappen Comparison: Both Bearman and his team principal, Ayao Komatsu, acknowledge his preference for a reactive, pointy car with an unstable rear, which he can manage to extract lap time in a way few others can.
• Braking Technique: This trait directly impacts his braking style. He brakes incredibly late and hard, using maximum downforce to slow the car before releasing the brakes early to rotate the car into the corner.
• The Ocon Contrast: This contrasts with teammate Esteban Ocon, whose less aggressive braking style sometimes led to lock-ups when attempting to match Bearman's points—a problem mistaken for a technical fault rather than a difference in technique.
• A Rookie's Learning Curve: Bearman's first half-season was marred by mistakes from applying an F2 mindset—pushing to the limit immediately—in F1's more structured practice sessions. He adapted in the second half, scoring points in six of the final 10 races, including a career-best fourth in Mexico.

What's next:

Bearman's stated goal isn't to become fundamentally faster, but to access his proven top speed more consistently. He aims to build confidence and hit his "98th or 99th percentile" performance level more often. The all-new 2026 regulations will be a new test of his adaptability, but his steep learning curve suggests he's on the right track to fulfill his ultimate ambition: a full-time race seat with Ferrari.