Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
Oliver Bearman will step up from Formula 3 to Formula 2 with PREMA Racing.
Bearman was a Formula 3 rookie in 2022, but that didn’t stop him from coming close to the title. He finished the season in third place, two points off second and a mere seven points behind the champion Victor Martins.
His success with PREMA exceeded expectations, and he finished above both his more experienced teammates, Arthur Leclerc and Jak Crawford.
The British Ferrari Academy driver scored eight podiums in 2022, one of those a race win. Twice he took two podiums in one round, doing so in both Spa and Monza.
So after one of PREMA’s current Formula 2 drivers announced he’d be moving to MP Motorsport in 2023, the team decided to promote Bearman after just one season in Formula 3.
This is just the beginning of the Formula 2 silly season, with more announcements expected following the end of the season.
Quotes from Bearman and PREMA team principal
For Bearman, this is a big opportunity to prove himself, both to PREMA and to the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“I’m really excited to continue another year with the PREMA family, this time in F2,” Bearman said. “I’m really happy with how my first season went in F3. It was a really nice introduction and I felt like the team coached me throughout the year really well.
“I will continue to work hard over the winter with the Ferrari Driver Academy, in order to be fully prepared for 2023. It will be a tough challenge, but everyone works so hard and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’m already really excited for the test in Abu Dhabi and for the first round of 2023 in Bahrain.”
PREMA’s team principal, Rene Rosin was full of praise for Bearman, saying: “We were amazed by how quickly and successfully Ollie transitioned from F4 to Formula 3 racing. He is a really talented driver, and while he will be making his first steps in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, we are confident he will improve race by race with the support of our team and the Ferrari Driver Academy as well.
“It won’t be easy, because the step from F3 to F2 is considerable, but we are confident in his potential for the season ahead.”
Bearman will be with PREMA for the Formula 2 post-season test in Abu Dhabi following the conclusion of the 2022 season.
Feature Image Credit: @PREMA_team on Twitter