As Haas rolls out its 2026 contender and Formula 1 edges toward one of the most dramatic rule resets the sport has ever seen, Oliver Bearman admits his mind is already racing ahead – so much so that patience feels like the hardest part of the job.
Ahead of his second full season in F1, Bearman finds himself energised by uncertainty, aware of the risks around him, yet irresistibly drawn to the opportunity that the new era presents.
Haas’ unveiling of the VF-26 on Monday was more than just a livery launch. It marked the beginning of a clean-sheet Formula 1 season defined by sweeping technical changes, including power units split evenly between electrical energy and internal combustion.
For Bearman, it represents a first – and a thrilling one.
A New Era, and a Restless Wait
“I feel these changes are the biggest in the history of Formula 1, so with that is a huge deal of excitement for me,” said Bearman.
“I'm heading into a regulation change for the first time in my life, really.”
That excitement comes hand in hand with the unknown. Unlike last year, when Haas entered the season with a fair idea of its competitive position, 2026 feels wide open – a fact Bearman finds both motivating and deeply uncomfortable.
“Last year was a big step for me, but I think even from the beginning, we knew that if we put the car in the right window, we were still going to be able to fight for points, and we had an idea of the competitiveness of the car,” he added.
“That lack of knowledge heading into 2026 is good and bad, as on one side I feel like we can really have an impact straight away, but also it's horrible not knowing.”
The anticipation has reached the point where Bearman wishes he could fast-forward time just to satisfy his curiosity.
“I would like to skip forward six months to see where we are, but I'm going to be giving it everything to make sure that where we are is as high up as possible.”
Lessons Learned but the Pressure Is On
Bearman arrives at this pivotal season with momentum – but also with pressure. His rookie year showed flashes of real promise, particularly in the second half, yet he begins 2026 carrying 10 penalty points on his super licence.
With no points expiring until mid-May at the Canadian Grand Prix, a race ban looms uncomfortably close during the opening rounds.
Still, reflection on his debut campaign brings confidence rather than anxiety. Bearman described just how transformative his first full year in Formula 1 proved to be.
“It was a year where I certainly learned a lot, not only about myself as a person, or as an athlete, but also about Formula 1,” he said.
“I’ve really increased my knowledge base infinitely, because I’ve been put in experiences that you just can’t learn prior to experiencing them.
“I’ve definitely improved a lot in all of those areas and I’m really happy with how the season went, particularly the second half.
Read also: Haas F1 Team unveils 2026 VF-26 design and livery“I really upped my game, I felt like in the second half of the season, I started to put down some really some results that I was really happy with, and that was critical for me. I’m excited to continue that this year.”
With Ferrari ambitions quietly hovering in the background and a regulation reset promising to shuffle the competitive order, Bearman stands at the edge of opportunity.
He may wish he could skip ahead, but for now, the 20-year-old knows the only way to shape that future is to attack the present – full throttle.
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