The High Performance Podcast Ollie Bearman: The 10 Minute Change That Saved My F1 Career (E396)
Mar 2, 2026
Ollie Bearman, a young British F1 driver and Ferrari junior racing for Haas, reflects on rapid growth after midseason changes. He talks about a simple 10-minute pre-session routine that transformed his consistency. He opens up about loneliness on the road, learning from experienced rivals, and shifting from risky aggression to long-term team focus.
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Ten Minute Mental Buffer Transformed Performance
- Ollie realized the driver's mental preparation mattered as much as engineers' setup work and added a pre-session alignment routine.
- He introduced a 10-minute driver-room buffer with physio and coach to set personal objectives before every run.
Use Practice To Learn Limits Not Chase Laps
- Treat F1 Friday practice as setup optimization, not an all-out qualifying rehearsal; build the car up at 90% to identify limits safely.
- Shift mindset from F2/F3 habits: use extra F1 track time to learn the car gradually and avoid reckless risk.
Combat F1 Loneliness With Simple Routines
- Counter loneliness and overwhelm by creating simple routines and perspective practices like gratitude and cycling to fill empty hotel days.
- Use small activities (cycling, appreciating surroundings) to occupy time and reset mentally between race blocks.