Ollie Bearman really grabbed people’s attention when he won both the German and Italian Formula 4 championships in 2021. The teenager from Chelmsford had already enjoyed a successful karting career and won races in his first car-racing season during the COVID-19 pandemic, but winning the two toughest championships on the first rung of the F1 ladder with Van Amersfoort Racing put him on the map.
His family had a background in club racing and Bearman had originally meant to combine karting with F4 in 2020 because he wasn't 15 until May. But the late start to the season because of COVID meant he didn't have to miss any F4 rounds, providing the foundation for his outstanding 2021.
