British star reveals weird purpose why he failed driving take a look at months earlier than F1 debut

Britain’s latest F1 star Ollie Bearman revealed that he failed his first driving test just months before being thrown into the spotlight when he made his debut for Ferrari

F1 star Ollie Bearman revealed he failed his first driving test just months before making his debut for Ferrari.

Bearman was thrown into the spotlight at last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as a late replacement for Carlos Sainz, who was diagnosed with appendicitis during the race weekend. The then-18-year-old stepped into the Ferrari seat before he was called upon later in the season by Haas.

The Brit, 19, later deputised for the suspended Kevin Magnussen in Azerbaijan and also replaced Magnussen for the Brazil Grand Prix as the Dane fell unwell. Bearman has now landed a full-time seat with Haas for the 2025 season.

However, Bearman admitted he didn’t have the perfect start to his road driving compared to his F1 career. The teenager was asked by Sky Sports commentator David Croft whether he had passed his driving test, to which Bearman admitted slightly more than he felt he should have.

“I passed a few years ago since you can pass at 17 here not 18 like in Italy. I did pass second time, I shouldn’t have said that,” said the teenager with a smile.

“I didn’t stop at a ‘stop’ sign. I didn’t burn through, I slowed down and I was crawling but you are supposed to stop. We don’t have ‘stop’ signs at a race track so that was my first sighting of a ‘stop’ sign.

“But typical me, or typical racing driver I guess, I thought I could pass my test without any lessons. So, that is probably where I went wrong. I made sure I had a few lessons before the second one.”

Bearman became the youngest British F1 driver in history when he stepped in for Sainz in Jeddah last March. The London-born sensation finished 7th, making up four places from qualifying and finishing two places ahead of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Looking ahead to his first full-season behind the wheel of an F1 car, Bearman said: “I would still consider myself a rookie. I am not officially a rookie but I think that is a bit harsh. There are still tracks that I have not been to and I have not done a full season in F1.

“I am not feeling nervous now, there will be some nerves when I sit on the grid in Melbourne but I don’t think there will be any more pressure than there was in Jeddah or Baku or Brazil – if anything there will be even less.

“I have so many opportunities to prove myself that I don’t need to do anything crazy.”