Having risen rapidly through the ranks of Formula One, the Oliver Bearman—who has partnered with pet lifestyle brand Vetreska—speaks about growing up fast, staying grounded, and finding a sense of normality

At 16, most teenagers are plotting for a later curfew. Essex-born Oliver Bearman, however, was negotiating a move to Italy to be immersed in a language he didn’t speak and a seat on the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Now 21 and in his second full season with Haas in Formula One, he has covered ground most other drivers take much longer to cross. Called up in 2024 to replace an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari’s race in Saudi Arabia, Bearman finished seventh on his debut. That performance was evidence enough to earn Bearman a full-time seat with the Haas F1 team for the 2025 season.

His second campaign with the American team has already delivered flashes of promise with strong points finishes in Australia and China. Through it all, Bearman returns repeatedly to his core ethos of discipline, routine, and the importance of giving himself space amid the relentless pursuit of performance.

Which is why his newest partnership suits him so well. Vetreska, the design-led pet lifestyle brand built by Donald Kng, a Robb Report Singapore Thought Leader since 2025, has drawn Bearman’s family dogs, Freddie and Ruby, into its orbit, extending the collaboration into a motorsport-inspired Circuit Collection that pairs two worlds rarely seen together.

For Bearman, however, the logic is far simpler. Off the track, away from lap times and race weekends, Freddie and Ruby ask nothing of him but company. For a career built on constant velocity, these simple rituals appear to matter more than ever.

You moved to Italy on your own at just 16. How did that experience shape you?

It was a great experience to be thrown into the deep end. I had to mature very quickly and ultimately the structure Ferrari taught me has kept me on top of my routines.

Who has had the biggest influence on you, both as a driver and as a person?

It has to be my dad. He introduced me to racing and he has stayed as my mentor throughout my career. I remember before I started karting, before anything, I would go to some of my dad’s races. The smell of the rubber and the fuel, I fell in love with it straight away.

Your career has been built on people placing enormous trust in you at a young age. How has that shaped the way you think about responsibility?

It has shaped how I prioritise my time. As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve learnt to always place racing as my main focus. People who support me—my family, friends, and fans—have been an important part of my journey and I feel like I owe it to them to give my best performance at every race.

What part of your daily routine is non-negotiable?

Whenever I have a race weekend or training, I take 10 minutes alone before every session to calm down, focus, and set a goal for the day. I started this tradition when I realised I was spending too much time thinking about work and not about myself.

Your Vetreska collaboration introduces fans to Freddie and Ruby. What side of you comes out most when you’re with them?

My life with racing is so intense, always having to focus on performance, training, and pushing myself to do better. But spending time with Freddie and Ruby helps me to switch off from work. They don’t care about my timings or if I won the race. They just want to run and play with me, and wait for me to feed them breakfast and dinner.

At this point in your career, how do you define success?

Right now, my focus is on doing my best in the upcoming races. I hope that I can give the fans something to celebrate.

When you look back years from now, what do you hope people will remember about you beyond the results?

I hope people will remember that I give my 100 per cent wherever I can, both on and off grid. I would say I’m a pretty determined person and I’d want to be known for the hard work that I put into my training and races.

This story first appeared in the October 2026 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here