F1’s Next Wave: Antonelli and Bearman

Formula 1 rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman represent the sport`s new generation: they are engaging, focused, and living their dream.

Eighteen-year-old Antonelli appears unfazed by the prospect of stepping into the role previously held by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. Nineteen-year-old Bearman, a Ferrari junior seen as a prime candidate to potentially replace the seven-time world champion at the Scuderia in the future, has already proven himself as a consistent points scorer for the Haas team.

The duo raced together in Formula 2 last season as teammates at Prema. Their bond dates back to their initial races in junior categories in 2021. Despite both now being part of the exclusive Formula 1 grid, their strong friendship clearly endures.

When Mercedes and Haas facilitated a joint interview with them, it felt less like a formal Q&A and more like observing a chat between two friends still processing the incredible reality they are experiencing. In an F1 paddock increasingly discussing generational shifts, Antonelli and Bearman aren`t just participating in the next wave – they are the wave itself: full of energy, likeable, and already building significant fanbases. Antonelli, remarkably, is still completing his final school exams. While figures like Fernando Alonso, defying age in his 22nd season, represent F1`s previous era, Antonelli and Bearman embody its vibrant, exciting future.

“When he started, I wasn`t even a thought in my parents` minds!” Antonelli quipped, referring to Alonso`s 2001 debut with Minardi. Bearman, shaking his head, added, “It`s wild… I think before my parents even met, Alonso was already racing in Formula 1. That`s insane.”

Antonelli, demonstrating his more playful side, grinned. “He`ll always be a rookie,” he joked, referencing the popular online meme that suggests Alonso, despite his two world championships and over two decades of experience, somehow perpetually reinvents himself as F1`s perpetual newcomer. This running gag is something Antonelli, Bearman, and fellow rookies Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, and Gabriel Bortoleto humorously played on in a viral preseason video with F1 TV`s Laura Winter.

Alonso is, of course, far from being a rookie. By the time Bearman and Antonelli were born, Alonso was a leading force in Formula 1. He was leading the championship on May 8, 2005, the day Bearman was born, and again on August 25, 2006, Antonelli`s birthday.

Bearman, adopting a more serious tone, commented, “To share the track with him, and with Lewis [Hamilton], for instance, is quite incredible. These drivers have been here so long and possess immense experience. We grew up watching them on TV. Lewis was winning everything when we were kids, and now we`re competing against him.”

Fan Favorites in the Making

Bearman`s F1 debut occurred under extraordinary circumstances last year when he stood in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis.

At 18, he became the youngest ever Ferrari driver and the third youngest overall to start an F1 race. He was also the first person to race in Formula 1 who was born after Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher secured his seventh world title. That debut truly marked Bearman`s arrival.

“There are so many new fans,” Antonelli observed, turning to Bearman. “I mean, this guy, when he drove in Saudi last year… it was crazy, right?”

Bearman nodded. “My social media following doubled overnight. It was unbelievable.”

Whenever possible, both drivers have aimed to keep their social media posts authentic to themselves.

“It`s 50-50,” Antonelli said regarding who manages his social media. “I handle the more humorous posts, you know.”

The influence of this new fanbase was evident in the early races this year. At the second race in China, Antonelli was voted Driver of the Day by F1 viewers after finishing sixth. His post-race reaction to receiving the award went viral.

When told by his new race engineer, Peter Bonnington, the young Italian responded, “Really? That`s… strange.” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff himself radioed Antonelli, saying, “I think it`s your charm. And your target audience.”

When the award came up during the interview, he chuckled and looked at Bearman.

“I was so annoyed by that,” Bearman laughed.

“I thought of you when I got it,” Antonelli smiled back. “But I expected to get it in Australia [the opening race].”

Bearman, who finished eighth in Shanghai driving for the less competitive Haas team, retorted, “I was like, `This guy is stealing my Driver of the Day!`”

Bearman can probably relax on that front. Given their start to their F1 careers, they will likely have many more chances to `steal` the fan-voted award from each other. After a qualifying crash marred his Haas debut at the Australian Grand Prix, Bearman has been excellent, adding two more points finishes in Japan and Bahrain to his result in Shanghai for the improving American team.

As for Antonelli, while he hasn`t yet consistently matched the performance of his experienced teammate George Russell, the excitement surrounding him in the paddock is undeniable. Hamilton, whom Antonelli replaced at Mercedes, has spoken highly of the young Italian whenever the opportunity arises. Those who have watched Antonelli trackside or observed his onboard footage often say the same thing: there are few things as exhilarating in F1 right now; he drives with daring confidence. Coupled with his infectious personality, it`s easy to see why he is already cultivating such a significant following.

“The fans are incredibly important for the sport and the drivers,” Antonelli stated. “They are the ones who truly make the weekend special.”

At that point, Bearman added, “Just support us.”

Continuing their playful back-and-forth, Antonelli laughed and extended the joke.

“Yes, just support us,” the Italian agreed. “Not anyone else. Hashtag `Come only for Kimi and Ollie!`”

F1 fans have numerous reasons to attend races currently. The sport`s popularity has surged in recent years, significantly boosted by the successful Netflix series `Drive to Survive.` Both drivers have witnessed the scale of this following firsthand, stepping up from supporting Formula 2 races to the main F1 events.

“When we were on the F2 grid, it was mainly the diehard fans,” Bearman recalled. “But now the grid is unbelievable.”

“It`s very loud,” Antonelli interjected, referring to the music played before a Grand Prix.

“It is quite loud,” Bearman conceded. “You can hear it when the car is starting, pretty much. It`s so loud. The bass… I think it makes the track vibrate. I suspect in a few races, we`ll start finding it a bit annoying!”

Students of the Sport

Remarkably, Antonelli is balancing his rookie F1 season with completing his final year of school in Italy. “My mother is insisting,” he mentioned regarding her push for him to finish his studies this year. Antonelli attends the Salvemini di Casalecchio di Reno Technical Institute in Bologna.

When asked if he brings homework to the track, Antonelli laughed again. “I try to bring some. For instance, math… I hand all my homework to the engineers, because they`re good with numbers.”

Antonelli is being modest about his numerical skills. Another notable trait is his photographic memory. Last year, his Prema F2 team shared a video on social media of him recalling random qualifying lap times (down to the thousandth of a second) from various points in his career. Discussing the Suzuka qualifying session from the previous week, he recalled it perfectly. “I`m quite particular about this.” As if to underline his point, he interrupted Bearman when the Englishman mentioned his own qualifying effort from Japan the week prior to the interview.

“I know Suzuka was one minute… wait… 29.7?” Bearman stumbled, trying to recall his final lap time.

“No, mate!” Antonelli corrected. “You did a 1:27.8.”

“Really?” Bearman laughed. “Faster than I thought. See? From last week, I`ve forgotten the lap time. He can remember lap times from karting!”

Antonelli shrugged when asked about his incredible recall. “I don`t know. It`s like… I guess because I`m quite focused on lap times. They just seem to stick in my head.”

When it was suggested he didn`t need to give his engineers his homework, Antonelli chuckled again. “Okay, let`s swap. I`ll put Bono in the car and I`ll do the engineering. I don`t think that would end well. I`d probably mess up the setup terribly.”

As their friendship has grown, Antonelli has taken on the role of language tutor, assisting Bearman with his Italian. There is one particular phrase Antonelli enjoys teaching his English friend.

“`Sei alla frutta,`” Antonelli explained. “It`s nothing offensive. It essentially means you`re completely finished, totally done. Like when you`re completely drunk and you say, `Sei alla frutta` because you can`t talk, you can`t think, whatever.”

As the interview concluded, the pair joked about how Antonelli`s signature phrase might feature in his F1 career, drawing a parallel to his predecessor Hamilton`s famous line at Mercedes: “Bono, my tires are gone.”

“Mine could be… my tires alla frutta,” Antonelli laughed in response.

“That could be the new catchphrase,” Bearman suggested, then referenced Bonnington`s well-known phrase from Hamilton`s championship-winning era. “I need to hear a version of Hammer Time.”

Bearman`s suggestion, based on the three-letter abbreviations used on timing screens, was admittedly less memorable but made both drivers laugh again as the interview wrapped up. “It`s ANT time!”

Five races into their first full F1 seasons, it might not be strictly Antonelli Time or Bearman Time yet. But judging by how quickly they have integrated into the grid alongside the seasoned professionals, that moment may not be far off.