Oliver Bearman says it was a mistake giving up FP1 in Bahrain and also in Mexico after realising the difficulties, as he questions the practice as a F1 rookie.
Even though Haas’ Bearman is termed as a rookie considering that 2025 is his first full F1 season, but as per the regulations he is not rookie, having completed more than two races in 2024. He undertook three races last year, one for Ferrari and two for Haas as last minute substitute.
As a result, he couldn’t take part in the post-season Abu Dhabi test as a rookie. And his FP1 sessions in 2025 didn’t count as rookie sessions as well. As per the FIA regulations, both the drivers are expected to vacate their car for two FP1 sessions in any of the 24 races in the season.
Considering the decision is taken far before the season starts, Bearman put up Bahrain and Mexico as his choice, while teammate Esteban Ocon gave up Barcelona as one and the other will be Abu Dhabi. After difficulties, the rookie thinks it was a mistake giving up his two sessions.
In fact, he feels F1 rookies shouldn’t be giving up FP1 sessions considering their own status. Initially, Bearman was okay with his choice of Mexico as he had done FP1 before there, but thought Bahrain was a mistake. “No, I obviously have been able to have a bit of experience on this track, which, when I sat down prior to the season and tried to figure out what free practice sessions to give away, probably Bahrain was not the correct move, but I think this one will be the correct move,” he said to media before the weekend started.
“It’s good to get it out of the way. It’s a track that develops a lot during the weekend. We have nine out of ten possible people running in FP1. I think pretty much everyone who can, every team is running a rookie in FP1, so it’s the obvious choice. And I’ve had the experience on the track, so it’s obviously not beneficial to give away a free practice one, but I think it’s the least damaging that I could think of when I decided to give away my sessions.
“Definitely, given that we have a new upgrade on the car this weekend, I would have liked to do a FP1, but when we sit down in January or February and decide those things, it’s tough to take everything into account. I think given the circumstances, I’ve learnt a lot about which sessions to give away, because like I said, it’s not as easy as just picking a random session. There’s definitely a lot of method to it, and these are all learning things, and for next year.
“Even though this is my rookie season, I still have to give away two free practices, and if anything that’s going to put me in a better place for next year when I decide what sessions I don’t want to do,” summed up Bearman. But his stance changed on Saturday and even Sunday, even though he finished secured his best result of fourth after a solid run in the race.
He thought the miss didn’t allow him to gel well with the update and questioned the practice, which is same for all. “Yeah, I don’t know honestly [how Esteban decided],” said Bearman. “I just said I wanted these ones, and then I got these ones, so I guess Esteban didn’t want these ones. [But] it is a tough track and I probably underestimated how important it is to do FP1, so again it is tough, it is my rookie season but I am still having to miss FP1.
“So, it is a bit tough because in my position I should be able to do FP1 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. I guess those three races I got last year, where I am now, I probably would have only done two races to get an FP1 this weekend, and maybe we could have been a little bit faster,” summed up Bearman.
When asked why Bahrain was a wrong choice, he added: “Because you get one lap on each tyre in Bahrain, because the deg is so high. So my fault to give away FP1 in Bahrain was because I did the test there. But when I came back and missed FP1, I was straight into FP2.
“And you get one push lap on your medium or whatever tyre it was, and then it’s too hot and the balance is not representative. Whereas if you give it away, let’s say, even in a track like Baku, where you can do as many laps as you want on the tyres, it’s much less damaging.”
Here’s Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon on Mexico GP