Bearman recalls driving test gaffe: 'We don't have stop signs in F1'
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Oliver Bearman is undeniably a rising star in Formula 1, but his journey to earning a simple road-driving license hit a speed bump - quite literally.
The Haas rookie recently admitted to an embarrassing mishap that saw him flunk his first-ever driving test a few years ago due to what can only be described as a classic racing driver's mistake.
While the young gun has proven himself more than capable of racing among motorsport's elite, things didn't go quite as smoothly when it came to the everyday challenge of conquering the open roads.
'We Don't Have Stop Signs on Race Tracks!'
Unlike his fellow rookies in Formula 1, Bearman had the privilege of tackling his driving test at 17.
"Luckily, I passed it a few years ago! You can pass at 17, not 18, like in Italy," the Briton said, speaking at this week's F1 75 LIve event in London.
But the benefit didn't come with a free pass. "I passed on my second time!" he admitted.
So, what exactly went wrong? "I didn't stop at a 'stop' sign. I didn't burn it, I did slow down, but you're meant to stop. We don't have those on race tracks!"
Ah, the classic racing driver's dilemma. Bearman, used to the high-octane world of motorsport, apparently forgot that public roads require a slightly different approach.
"Typical racing driver, I thought I could pass my test without any lessons. That's where I went wrong," he confessed. It seems even future F1 stars aren't immune to a bit of overconfidence.
But fear not, Bearman learned from his mistake.
"I took a few lessons for the second one," he said. "I've been driving since 2022 now, so I am a very experienced driver now!"
From stop sign slip-ups to navigating the twists and turns of an F1 circuit, Bearman' has come a long way. His first car? A BMW 1 series. Now, he cruises in style with an Alfa Romeo company car.
A Star in the Making—On the Track, at Least
Thankfully for Bearman, his real talent lies in Formula 1, where there are no stop signs to worry about.
The young Brit was one of the most impressive rookies in 2024, making his mark when he stepped in for an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in Jeddah and finished seventh – beating Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris in the process.
Later, he impressed again with Haas in Azerbaijan and Sao Paulo before earning a full-time seat with the US outfit for 2025.
Now, as he gears up to race alongside Esteban Ocon at Haas, one thing's for certain – he won't be worrying about road signs any time soon.
But if the FIA ever introduces a mandatory "complete stop" rule in F1, Bearman might just have flashbacks to his teenage driving test nightmare.
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