Bearman: Haas’ 2026 livery launch “marks the start of the biggest changes F1 has ever seen”

F1 Grand Prix, GP Mexico, Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Ollie Bearman says the reveal of Haas’ 2026 Formula One livery is the moment the scale of the upcoming season truly hit him. As the American team presented the look of its radically new challenger, the 20‑year‑old reflected on a whirlwind off‑season, the uncertainty of a major regulation reset, and the confidence he carries into his second year in Formula One.

The winter break, he admits, barely felt like one. “It was a very short off‑season,” Bearman said. “I’ve been told they're not normally like this, but I've only experienced a short one like this so far.”

Even so, he managed to disconnect long enough to recharge. “It was nice to get a break after the post‑season test. We still had simulator work and seat fit sessions, but I was able to spend time with my family and reset my batteries for the new season.”

Bearman completed his first simulator session with the 2026 car before Christmas, and the livery reveal only reinforced the sense that he is stepping into uncharted territory.

“I feel these changes are the biggest in the history of Formula 1,” he said. “I’m heading into a regulation change for the first time in my life. Last year was a big step for me, but we still had an idea of the competitiveness of the car. This time, that lack of knowledge is good and bad.”

The unknowns, he admits, are both thrilling and unsettling.
“On one side I feel like we can really have an impact straight away, but also it's horrible not knowing. I would like to skip forward six months to see where we are, but I'm going to be giving it everything to make sure that where we are is as high up as possible.”

With only six weeks between Abu Dhabi and the start of 2026 preparations, Bearman took a rare step back from training.
“I spent the whole of December out of the gym,” he said. “No physical training really — simply trying to relax and enjoy myself.”

January brought a sharp return to intensity. “I spent a lot of time in the mountains this winter break. The altitude is really beneficial, and I was able to conduct a training camp in the Dolomites, which was incredibly fun and very useful heading into the new season.”

With his debut season behind him, Bearman says the biggest change heading into 2026 is internal.

“It was a year where I learned a lot — about myself, about being an athlete, and about Formula 1,” he said. “I've really increased my knowledge base infinitely, because I've been put in experiences that you just can't learn prior to experiencing them.”

The turning point came in the second half of 2025. “I really upped my game. I started to put down results I was really happy with, and that was critical for me. I'm excited to continue that this year.”

With six power unit suppliers and the largest grid in modern F1, Bearman expects the early rounds to be chaotic.

“It’s impossible to gauge where we're going to be right now,” he said. “Everything I'm seeing from the team is positive, but we don't know how we stack up, and we won’t know until qualifying in Australia.”

Even then, he warns, the picture will be incomplete. “In the first few races reliability is going to be a big factor. There are going to be teams and people making mistakes with these new regulations. It's going to be tough to establish a true pecking order.”

What excites Bearman most about 2026 is the chance to revisit circuits with experience under his belt.

“I now understand how a track evolves through the weekend, how the tires perform, and what changes may have tripped me up last year,” he said. “Even just having one race weekend’s worth of experience at a circuit is going to put me in a much better place.”

As Haas steps into a new era with a new identity, Bearman sees the livery reveal as the symbolic beginning of a season defined by reinvention — for the team, for the sport, and for himself.