Ollie Bearman fought back tears in Mexico City after his stunning drive to fourth place caught the eye of the F1 world – including Max Verstappen.
The 20-year-old Brit delivered Haas’ joint-best ever Grand Prix result on Sunday, capping off a remarkable performance that included a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle with the four-time world champion.
Bearman’s incredible race earned him ‘Driver of the Day’ honors and 12 valuable championship points.
But it was what happened after the checkered flag that really showed what this meant to him.
While giving a post-race interview in the media pen about his battle with Verstappen, Bearman suddenly spotted his girlfriend and father in the crowd. Both were overcome with emotion watching the young driver’s breakthrough moment.
The camera caught the touching scene as Bearman waved to his loved ones, before becoming emotional himself.
“It’s very special,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “You didn’t need to show me that, now I’m emotional!”
## British Media Celebrates Homegrown Talent
The British press couldn’t get enough of their newest F1 star after his fearless drive through the field at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The BBC was particularly impressed by how Bearman handled himself against Verstappen, noting: “Bearman didn’t just race with Verstappen, he produced some bold and impressive driving that even the four-time world champion would have been proud of.”
The standout moment came when the rookie went toe-to-toe with Verstappen in a thrilling side-by-side battle, with Bearman ultimately coming out on top thanks to a perfectly executed move down the inside.
His 12-point haul from the race has catapulted him to 13th in the drivers’ standings – not bad for someone in their debut season.
With performances like this, the young Haas driver is quickly establishing himself as one to watch in Formula 1’s next generation of talent.
