British hopeful claims he is 'ready' for F1 seat chance

Formula 2 star Oliver Bearman has signalled that he would be readyto race in Formula 1 if handed the opportunity. Bearman iscurrently part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and took part in twofree practice sessions with Haas in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last year.He also enjoyed a successful rookie season in the Formula 2championship, scoring three pole positions and four race victoriesen route to sixth place in the Drivers' standings. Bearman willreturn to the F2 series next year with Prema, partnering MercedesF1 junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli. However, the Briton also has aneye on F1 as he looks to take on a full-time seat from the 2025campaign. Should an opportunity arise to race in the category,Bearman asserted that he would be prepared to step into the seat.“I know I’d be ready to go,” Bearman told media includingRacingNews365 . “I know I have what it takes, but of coursepreparation would be important and, first of all, I’d have to do agood job in F2 – that’s step one. “But I have no doubt that if Iget a call-up, I’m ready to go.” Bearman also received praise fromHaas Team Principal Guenther Steiner following his FP1 performancesbehind the wheel of the VF-23. “Pretty good. I mean, he makes it agood job. He stayed very calm and very mature for an 18-year-old,”Steiner said. “He did a good job in the car as well. Confident[but] not overconfident, it's a fine line, always. It was a nicesurprise, a positive surprise.”