Oliver Bearman has reflected on the role Formula 2 (F2) played in his development, highlighting the lessons, victories, and relationships that helped shape his journey towards Formula 1 (F1).
The Briton spent two seasons with PREMA Racing in the championship, collecting eight victories before making the step up to Formula 1. Across those campaigns, Bearman experienced everything from dominant race weekends to more difficult periods, giving him an opportunity to develop both behind the wheel and away from the circuit.
As Formula 2 celebrates its 10th season, Bearman looked back on what the category taught him, the moments that remain among his favourites, and the connections he continues to value.
Crucial preparation for F1
F2 represented an important stage in Bearman’s progression towards F1. Beyond simply gaining more racing experience, the championship introduced him to several elements that would become increasingly important at the highest level.
Pit stops and tyre management formed a major part of that learning process, while understanding the behaviour of the car also helped Bearman develop his technical knowledge.
“It helps you learn a lot of things about racing, particularly pit stops, the first category that you do pit stops, tyre degradation, it’s quite high in F2. Also you’re learning more about vehicle dynamics and car behaviours and these are all things that help you get to Formula 1.”
Those demands made F2 a valuable training ground, but Bearman also remembers the experience for the opportunities it gave him to compete at circuits that drivers in the junior categories do not always encounter. For those now following the same path, his advice centres on making the most of that experience while continuing to work towards the next step.
“Enjoy it. It’s a fun ride. It’s the first-time racing around a lot of really cool tracks like Baku and Jeddah. These are all really incredible tracks… and keep pushing.”
Monza, Qatar and Baku stand out among Bearman’s F2 memories
Bearman enjoyed several successful weekends during his two seasons in F2, making the choice of a single favourite victory difficult. Monza features prominently among his memories. Bearman won the 2023 Feature Race at the Italian circuit after taking the lead on the opening lap, while he returned one year later to win the 2024 Sprint Race from eighth on the grid.
However, his victory in Qatar during his second season also carries particular significance. Bearman took the lead from Isack Hadjar late in the 2024 Lusail Sprint Race before going on to secure his third F2 victory of that campaign.
“Probably Monza, that was a nice weekend. Also, the last season I did in F2, the win in Qatar was a nice feeling, particularly after it was a very, very tough season, so to finish the year with a win was really nice.”
Baku provided another defining chapter of Bearman’s F2 career. During his rookie campaign in 2023, he produced a standout weekend in Azerbaijan, securing his maiden F2 pole position before winning both the Sprint and Feature Races. In doing so, he became the first driver to top every session across a single Formula 2 round.
“My weekend in Baku was also very nice.”
The relationships remain part of Bearman’s F2 legacy
While victories and on-track achievements form a significant part of Bearman’s F2 story, some of his strongest memories came from the people around him. Working closely with engineers and the wider PREMA Racing team allowed Bearman to build relationships throughout his two seasons, while his time in the paddock also connected him with people working across the championship. Those connections did not simply disappear when he progressed beyond F2.
“The relationships I built with the engineers, with my team, but also the people that work in Formula 2, the media, they’re really nice and still relationships that I hold to this day.”
Bearman’s progression has also seen him continue competing against drivers he previously encountered on the junior single-seater ladder. Moving through Formula 3 (F3) and F2 alongside other drivers before meeting them again at the highest level adds another dimension to Bearman’s F1 experience and serves as a reminder of the journeys they shared before reaching the top.
“It’s special to move up from Formula 2 and even from Formula 3 with them, so it’s really, really nice, and it certainly makes it more special.”
For Bearman, F2 ultimately provided far more than a final step on the route to F1. It gave him experience of the technical and strategic demands he would later face, produced some of the defining victories of his junior career and created relationships that have remained with him beyond the championship.
