Formula 1 rookie Oliver Bearman lamented the sporting regulations that meant he had to miss FP1 running at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The updated rule-set for the 2025 season mandates that each team must field rookies on at least two occasions in each of its cars during a calendar season.
And while Bearman is a rookie for all intents and purposes, his fortunes last year meant he did not qualify as a “rookie” as far as the FIA is concerned.
Bearman, who is affiliated with the Ferrari Driver Academy, was asked to step in for Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen during three race weekends last year.
As per the FIA, a rookie for the purposes of the regulations is any driver who has not competed in more than two Grands Prix in their career, rendering Bearman disqualified.
For the Mexico City GP, Bearman lamented how the ruleset meant he had to sit out crucial track running to give Ryo Hirakawa a chance in the VF-25.
“It’s a tough track, and I probably underestimated how important it is to even do FP1,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“So again, it’s tough. 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, but the fact is that I have to give it up.
“You have to give them up, so anyway it’s going to hurt you regardless of where you do it.
“If I was to repeat the season, I’d probably do it in tracks that I know a lot more, like Abu Dhabi and stuff like that.
“But the facts are that I’m still a rookie, this is my first full season, and I’m still having to give up FP1s. I shouldn’t even be in this situation where I’m having to give up FP1s.”
Bearman reflects on stellar Q3 in Mexico
Despite being handicapped by the regulations, Bearman had a stellar showing during qualifying on Saturday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The Briton out-qualified race-winning team-mate Esteban Ocon for the sixth consecutive time this season as he progressed into the top-10 shootout.
Looking ahead to the race on Sunday, Bearman reflected on his “bittersweet” result as he also praised the upgrades that Haas installed last weekend.
“I’m happy to be in Q3, all things considered,” added Bearman.
“Yesterday I was struggling a bit to get on top of the car in just one session, and today I had a bit of an issue on my Soft tyre that meant I didn’t really get a feeling on it.
“So heading into quali there were a lot of question marks.
“We’re still missing a bit, because that lap that I did there in Q3, honestly, was I felt like all that she could do, so that’s a bit of a bittersweet feeling.
“But we’re in Q3 for the third time in a row and the upgrade is definitely more performance to the car, which is what we aim for, so that’s important.”
READ MORE — Charles Leclerc dismisses explanation behind continued Ferrari revival at F1 Mexico GP
Discussion about this post