Oliver Bearman Frustrated with F1 Rookie Rule for FP1 Access

Haas driver Oliver Bearman expressed his dissatisfaction with Formula 1's sporting regulations after being forced to miss Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the Mexico Grand Prix. Bearman, who believes he 'should be able to do FP1,' was ineligible due to having competed in three F1 races last season, exceeding the two-race limit for 'rookie' status in FP1 sessions.

Why it matters:

After a strong rookie season, Bearman's limited FP1 access due to a technicality highlights a potential flaw in F1's current regulations for developing young talent. For emerging drivers, every minute of track time is crucial for adaptation and performance, especially on unfamiliar circuits. This situation could hinder the progress of promising talents by forcing them to compromise their race preparation.

The Details:

• F1 sporting regulations mandate that teams run 'rookies' in each car on two occasions per season during Grand Prix weekends. A 'rookie' is defined as a driver with no more than two Grand Prix starts.
• Bearman's three starts in 2024 (standing in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Kevin Magnussen at Haas) narrowly put him over this limit, making him ineligible for FP1 sessions despite still being in his first full F1 season.
• At the Mexico Grand Prix, nine out of ten teams opted to replace a regular driver for FP1, often due to limited upgrades to test, dusty track conditions, and straightforward high-downforce setups. Bearman's car was given to Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa.
• Bearman emphasized the importance of FP1, particularly on challenging and unfamiliar tracks like Mexico, stating, 'It's a tough track, and I probably underestimated how important it is to even do FP1.'
• He further commented on the irony of his situation: 'It's my rookie season, but I'm still having to miss FP1. In my position, I should be able to do FP1 in a weekend like this.'
• With hindsight, Bearman even suggested he would have preferred to have only completed two races last year to retain his FP1 eligibility for the current season.

Between the lines:

Despite his frustrations with the regulations, Bearman showed strong performance. He outqualified his experienced teammate Esteban Ocon for the sixth consecutive time, reaching Q3 and securing ninth on the grid for the race due to Carlos Sainz's penalty. This suggests his talent can overcome some of the challenges posed by reduced track time.

• Bearman's qualifying performance: He outpaced Ocon by 0.050s, securing a spot in Q3, a 'bittersweet feeling' given his FP1 struggles.
• Haas Upgrade Impact: The floor upgrade debuted on the VF-25 in Austin is 'definitely more performance to the car,' contributing to Bearman's Q3 appearance.
• Race Pace Focus: Bearman noted that Haas's setup direction prioritizes race pace over qualifying performance, a strategy that has proven effective in recent races.

What's Next:

Bearman will start the Mexico Grand Prix from ninth position and remains confident in his race pace, which he described as 'really good' during Free Practice 2. His ability to perform strongly despite the FP1 setback underscores his potential, but also highlights the need for F1 to potentially re-evaluate rules that inadvertently penalize promising young drivers for taking opportunities.

• The discussion around rookie rules could intensify, potentially leading to adjustments to ensure young drivers gain maximum experience without being unfairly disadvantaged.
• Bearman's performance will be keenly watched, as continued strong results will only strengthen the argument for more flexible FP1 access for drivers in his situation.