Jock Clear, the engineer who previously worked with Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Charles Leclerc, has praised 21-year-old British driver Ollie Bearman, saying the Haas driver possesses the same quality that makes the Ferrari team-mates stars.
Clear's praise for Bearman's intelligence
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via betselect.co.uk, Clear said: "I'm probably biased and not very objective about the Ollie Bearman analysis because I know him too well. Marco Matassa and I brought him into the academy."
"What really encourages me about Ollie is the level of intelligence he brings to his driving. Every F1 driver is very talented; they're all very capable with their hands and feet. But what sets the really good ones apart is their ability to navigate the sport, and Ollie again has really good mental strength, and he is super intelligent."
Bearman's path to F1
Clear worked with Leclerc as his coach, helping him refine his race craft and mental side of his performance, as well as working with the Scuderia's driver academy. Bearman came through that Ferrari pathway before he replaced Carlos Sainz for the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to illness, making his F1 debut. The Chelmsford-born driver impressed and has held a secure seat at Ferrari's customer team since the start of last year.
With the years on his side and his knowledge of the Ferrari setup, Bearman has been touted as a potential replacement for Hamilton or Leclerc when the time comes for them to retire or move on.
What sets Bearman apart
Clear added: "Ollie has what we would call nous. And it's what Lewis has, and it's what Charles has; they're knowledgeable about the sport. And Ollie is the same. So is he another Lewis, or is he another Charles? Time will tell. I think his Haas experience has been very up and down."
"From what I know of him and what I've seen, he's certainly earned the opportunity to drive for a top team. Whether it's Ferrari, we'll have to wait and see. If Lewis is there for another three years and Charles is there for another three years, that opportunity might not come at Ferrari, but I would like it to come at one of the top teams so we can really see Ollie flourish and what he's capable of."
