Rollercoaster life of F1 rookies like Oliver Bearman who must find MILLIONS to race – only to wait tormented in wings

THEY’RE the young adrenaline junkies set to take over the world of Formula One – if they can hold their nerve.

After impressing on his debut in Saudi Arabia, where he filled in for teammate Carlos Sainz while he underwent surgery for appendicitis, Ferrari rookie Oliver Bearman is now tipped to receive a first-team call-up for rival Haas, where he’s also a reserve driver.

The F2 driver from Chelmsford beat seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to finish seventh in Jeddah, and has now been tipped as one of the sport’s hottest young drivers.

Oliver, who is dating glamorous TiKTok star Estelle Ogilvy, is reportedly already a millionaire at the age of 18, and can look forward to lapping up the spoils enjoyed by F1 stars if he makes the grid.

But while his career appears to have gone from zero to 100mph in no time, it follows years of hard graft and sacrifice as a reserve driver.

Contrary to what you might expect, the life of F2 stars is far from the glitz and glamour of a Formula 1 driver, says The Sun’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt.

“What they do a lot of the time is the work that the F1 drivers don’t want to do,” he explains.

“Where the F1 drivers will go home to Monaco after a race, the reserve driver will go to the factory and in the simulator and try to ascertain what went right and wrong to make changes and progress.

“It’s a thankless task doing all the preparation and making the car better.

“You’re not driving, so it can be dispiriting. You’re not getting the chance to show what you can do.

“It’s not necessarily a glamorous life.”

Here we take a deeper dive into life behind the scenes of a budding F1 star – and the pitfalls that can derail their careers.

‘£9million gamble’

The majority of F1 reserve drivers race in the F2 Championship and are part of a team’s young driver programme. 

Ben explains that they are scouted from the age of 11 – sometimes younger – from go-kart tracks. 

But go-karting is an expensive hobby, with costs running into tens of thousands, which is why so few racers come from working-class families.

Ben says: “We’re seeing less and less stories of people from humble beginnings, like Lewis Hamilton, getting into F1.

“That’s because it costs thousands and thousands to race each year, and then hundreds of thousands to do it internationally, with all the flights and accommodation.”

Ben estimates it would cost a driver £9million to get into F1, which rules out most budding racers who don’t have wealthy families.

But that money can come from a variety of sources. 

Ben says: “That can be made up of their parents’ money, sponsorship money, or funds from the young driver programme, which covers most of the costs.

“There is also private funding through companies where a business may be asked for £2million in return for a sum from a racer’s future earnings, which could get them many more millions – but that is a gamble for the business.”

Working their way up to the F1 championship is a costly endeavour, too, with junior drivers in F2 reportedly needing to stump up around £1.5million to race in competitions. 

This, for the majority, is covered by the owners of the racing teams.

Yahoo reported F2 drivers can make between £180 and £400 per day of work. Other sites have reported they can earn tens of thousands through sponsorship. 

Costly endeavour

If an aspiring youngster has what it takes they may be called up to serve as an F1 reserve, where they become salaried employees, though they could take home just shy of £20,000 a year. 

Should an F1 team’s regular driver be forced to pull out – due to injury or sickness – they are compensated, but the sums vary depending on the team. 

You drink a lot of cappuccinos, and you play a lot of Candy Crush on your phone, I’m going to be honest with you

Alexander Rossi

Unlike their first-team racing counterparts, few reserve drivers live in glamorous locations like tax haven Monaco, instead settling in the country where their F1 team is based. 

Alexander Rossi, a test driver for two years until 2014 at Caterham F1 and then a F1 reserve driver for Manor Marussia in 2015, admitted it is an awkward waiting game.

“You drink a lot of cappuccinos, and you play a lot of Candy Crush on your phone, I’m going to be honest with you,” he told The Athletic.  

He added it was “a necessary role” as it gives hopeful racers their “first foot in the door” and a taste of what being a first-team driver is like.

Rossi explained they go into the weekend preparing and participating as if they are going to race the car – despite rarely receiving a call-up.

Speaking of the other responsibilities, he added: “You go to all of the same briefings, you go to all the same meetings, you do the track walks, you train with the same physio, you eat the same food, you’re on the same schedule.

“You just don’t get to drive. So while the guys were doing the cool things and driving, you’re sitting either in hospitality or on the pit stand, drinking your cappuccinos, playing Candy Crush.”

McLaren reserve Pato O’Ward joked he was a “benchwarmer”, adding that the gig offers few thrills. 

“You get to jump into an F1 car from time to time, which is never a bad thing,” he said. “The rest of it is, it’s probably the worst part of the job.

They can’t go out drinking or cheat on their diets. They really do have to be at the top of their game

Ben Hunt, The Sun’s F1 correspondent

“I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but it’s a lot of sitting down and just listening to experiences that, well, you truly aren’t experiencing.

“You’re just hearing what someone else is kind of feeling.”

Haas’ reserve Pietro Fittipaldi acknowledged getting the opportunity to drive often meant misfortune had befallen his first-team racer pals. 

“It’s for sure, strange,” he admitted. “You never want to wish anything bad on anybody, and then when something does happen, it’s like, you’re happy that there’s the opportunity, but at the end, you’re friends with the race driver.”

He made his F1 debut in 2020, after his teammate Romain Grosjean cheated death in a horror crash at Bahrain.

The Frenchman suffered burns on his hands and ankle when he was trapped in his burning car for 28 seconds after hitting a barrier at 120mph which ripped it in two before it burst into flames.

‘Absolute professionals’

As they could be called on to race at any moment, the reserve drivers need to remain in peak physical condition and train up to four hours a day during pre-season. 

Ben says: “Reserve drivers are ready-to-go professionals, so they need to be eating the right things, training a few times a week, and in peak physical condition.

“That’s part of their role, so they can’t go out drinking or cheat on their diets.

“They really have to be at the top of their game and are absolute professional athletes at that stage.”

When it’s their time, they need to do really well. It’s like if a footballer comes on and has a stinker of a debut, that makes it hard for the manager to pick them again

Ben Hunt

When they hit the gym, F1 reserves aren’t looking to ‘get ripped’.

Instead they need to hone a lean frame capable of withstanding the brutal conditions inside a cramped F1 car. 

The muscles that get the toughest workout are in their necks, which need to keep the racer’s head and helmet upright through the twists and turns on a track.

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s neck is reportedly so strong he can crack a walnut with it. 

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Sainz are said to have spent time lying horizontally with weights strapped to their head to strengthen their necks for races.

These exercises are coupled with plenty of running, cycling and swimming to keep them fit and lithe.

Ben adds: “The key is really being as light as possible but they also need to be strong.

“Drivers are subjected to huge G-force in the cockpit that even the best drivers ache and have sore necks.” 

The reserves also follow strict diet plans from nutritionists – some include eating five to six small meals a day, that are full of greens and protein with minimal carbohydrates. 

It can come as quite an adjustment for some future F1 stars – before reigning world champion Verstappen hit the big time, the Dutch driver would scoff McDonald’s once or twice a week while racing in F3. 

‘Next best thing’

Ben explains that the biggest challenge for reserves is staying focused and up to speed on all systems and processes while waiting for their chance to shine. 

“Reserves can be thrown in at any minute,” he explains.

“Driving in F2 is very different to F1, you’re competing in a slower car, so it’s very different.”

He adds: “When it’s their time, reserve drivers need to do really well.

“It’s like if a footballer comes on and has a stinker of a debut, that makes it hard for the manager to pick them again. 

Mick Schumacher had his chance but didn’t impress massively. Mercedes took him on as a reserve driver and now the reality of him making a comeback is very slim

Ben Hunt

“With Oliver, he came in with a good attitude, made good qualifying times and had a good race, which led to people saying he deserved to be in F1. 

“The key is to take the opportunity and not to stuff it up – and if you can do that, like Oliver, you will be called ‘the next best thing’.” 

Ben says the Ferrari reserve is likely to expand upon his £1m fortune at the end of the season.

He adds: “I think he could join Haas, it will be interesting to see what he can do. On the track, he proved he was ready for F1.”

Wasted opportunity

It doesn’t always work out for all reserve racers – ultimately, results are key, as Mick Schumacher found out the hard way.

The son of legendary driver Michael was dropped by Haas in 2022 after failing to impress, and is now back to being a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren.

Ben says: “Mick had his chance but didn’t impress massively. Mercedes took him on as a reserve driver, and now the reality of him making a comeback is very slim.” 

Others become frustrated by constantly waiting in the wings and move on to other disciplines.

Former F1 reserve driver Sam Bird decided to make the jump to Formula E – the motorsport championship for electric cars.

Ben says: “Sometimes F1 reserve drivers don’t make it. Sam Bird was a good driver and had good F2 form, but never got an opportunity. 

“He moved to Formula E and has won lots of races. He’s become a success in his own right.

“He never got the chance to fulfill his F1 dream because Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were both in the Mercedes team at the time.” 

While Sainz looks set to return to F1 for the Australian GP this weekend, Oliver will be ready and willing to jump in his seat should his teammate back out last minute…

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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk