Oliver Bearman has made no secret of his admiration for Max Verstappen's ability to compete across multiple motorsport disciplines while dominating Formula 1. But as the young Haas driver prepares for his first full F1 season in 2025, he is clear-eyed about what comes first: proving he belongs at the top level before chasing adventures elsewhere on the racing calendar.
A Rookie With Big Ambitions and Bigger Priorities
Bearman enters the 2025 Formula 1 season as one of the most anticipated rookies in recent memory. After impressive substitute appearances for Ferrari and Haas in 2024, the British driver now has the chance to demonstrate his pace and racecraft over a full championship campaign with the American outfit. That opportunity carries weight, and Bearman understands the responsibility that comes with it.
While the idea of following Verstappen into endurance racing, sim racing, or other categories clearly appeals to him, Bearman has been refreshingly honest about where his focus must lie. He has acknowledged that he is still establishing himself as a Formula 1 race driver, and that branching out into other series is a future ambition rather than an immediate plan. For now, the priority is results in F1, full stop.
The Verstappen Precedent
Verstappen has done more than anyone in the modern F1 era to normalize the idea of a world-class grand prix driver pursuing passions outside the championship. In 2024, the Dutchman famously competed in the virtual Nurburgring 24 Hours on iRacing around the same weekend he was winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. It was a remarkable display of both versatility and confidence, sending a signal that elite drivers no longer need to stay in a single lane.
Beyond sim racing, Verstappen has participated in endurance events and pushed the boundaries of what an active F1 driver is expected to do with his time. For a new generation of racers like Bearman, that blueprint is clearly inspiring. The message Verstappen sends is simple: if you are good enough, you can do more. But that qualifier matters enormously.
Earning the Right: Why Credibility in F1 Comes First
Bearman's self-awareness on this topic is one of the more mature public statements to come from a driver so early in his F1 career. He has been direct in saying that he must first prove himself in Formula 1 before he can realistically consider diversifying his racing program. That is not just good PR. It reflects a genuine understanding of how the sport works and how reputations are built.
Verstappen's credibility in outside events is rooted in the fact that he is a multiple world champion. His participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours or a sim racing endurance event is viewed as a champion having fun and feeding his passion. For a driver still in his debut full season, the same activities would invite scrutiny about whether priorities are in the right place. Bearman clearly gets this, and his willingness to say it publicly sets a grounded tone for the season ahead.
There is also a practical element to consider. Haas is a team with something to prove in 2025. The organization has invested in Bearman as a core part of its future, and the expectation will be that he delivers on track every single race weekend. Distractions, whether real or perceived, are not something either party can afford at this stage of their working relationship.
What This Means for Bearman's Season
The broader context around Bearman's comments speaks to a driver who is thinking carefully about his career trajectory. At his age and stage, the temptation to chase every opportunity in motorsport can be strong, particularly when a figure like Verstappen makes it look effortless. But Bearman is choosing the harder and wiser path: building a foundation in F1 that would eventually make outside racing a reward rather than a distraction.
His debut full season will be watched closely not just by Haas, but by the wider paddock. Ferrari still holds an interest in his development, and how he performs in 2025 will shape his options for 2026 and beyond. A strong year in the midfield, consistent points finishes, and continued growth as a race driver would go a long way toward establishing exactly the kind of credibility he is talking about.
Oliver Bearman's comments about following the Verstappen model are a window into a driver who already thinks like a professional beyond his years. He wants what Verstappen has, but he understands that the path there runs directly through Formula 1 performance. The 2025 season is his moment to start earning it. If he delivers for Haas and continues to grow, the endurance races and sim racing marathons can come later. First, there is a championship to compete in, and for Bearman, that is more than enough.