The High Performance Podcast

Episode: Ollie Bearman – The 10 Minute Change That Saved My F1 Career (E396)

Date: March 2, 2026
Hosts: David Croft, Jake Humphrey, Damian Hughes
Guest: Ollie Bearman (F1 Driver, Haas, Ferrari Academy)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the journey of Ollie Bearman through his challenging rookie Formula 1 season, focusing on how a pivotal 10-minute ritual transformed his mental approach and performance. Bearman speaks candidly about the pressures of F1, the emotional and logistical struggles of elite competition, learning from setbacks, and how teamwork and self-reflection shaped his trajectory. Key insights include the importance of gratitude, handling loneliness, emotional maturity, and the non-negotiable habits that underpin a high-performance career at the top level of motorsport.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Rookie Struggles and the Turning Point

• Adjustment to F1:
  • Bearman describes the steep learning curve of F1, feeling pressure to prove himself, and the car’s unpredictability—especially in early races.
  • "I was happy overall... my best few races in terms of performance were the final four or five, which is really the target of a rookie season." (Ollie, 02:36)
• Run of 11th Places & Frustration:
  • He recounts finishing just outside the points repeatedly, feeling "so close" but falling short and questioning what more he needed to do.
  • "I went on a run of like four or five 11th places in a row...at some point I was just saying, what do I need to do?" (Ollie, 03:35)
• Pre- and Post-Summer Break Split:
  • The season is described as two halves, with a pivotal re-evaluation at the summer break that led to transformative improvement.
  • "When I look back at that year, there's kind of two sides to that season... I really made a step." (Ollie, 02:36)

2. The 10-Minute Change: Structure Over Chaos

• The Missing Piece:
  • Bearman explains that he was absorbed in technical duties (setup, strategy) and neglected his own mental preparation before entering the car.
  • "I was spending no time thinking about, where am I before getting into the car? ...I would get in and just almost be freestyling it and have not planned at all." (Ollie, 07:39)
• Implementation:
  • After regrouping with his personal team at summer break, they instituted a 10-minute mental alignment before each session—focusing on both team and personal goals.
  • "Instead of going from the office straight into the car and just driving out the garage, come back to your driver room. Let's spend 10 minutes and everyone align ourselves." (Ollie, 08:09)
• Immediate Impact:
  • The ritual improved focus, reduced inconsistency, and translated into stronger performances post-summer break.
  • "Literally 10 minutes, even less sometimes... These are the things we need to look out for." (Ollie, 08:37)

3. Pressure, Loneliness, and Emotional Wellbeing

• The Hidden Reality of F1 Life:
  • Bearman debunks the glamour myth, depicting intense loneliness, frequent travel, and psychological strain.
  • "F1 is 10 more races than F2. But those extra 10 are all of the furthest away destinations... you go from one extreme of being at the track and being with hundreds of people... then you get home into your hotel room and it's just you." (Ollie, 13:04)
• Bottling Up vs Vulnerability:
  • At first, Bearman admits to pushing emotions down. He learned (with a coach) to acknowledge his feelings and practice gratitude for perspective.
  • "One thing I was doing was bottling up my emotions a bit at the start of the year, so I found that quite challenging." (Ollie, 15:01)
  • "I've really understood or paid attention to this year was to be grateful and to take a step back." (Ollie, 15:41)
• Importance of Perspective:
  • Harnessing gratitude and appreciating the journey, even during tough times, became fundamental to his resilience.
  • "If I told 10 year old me what I'm doing now, I think he'd be pretty happy." (Ollie, 16:45)

4. Learning from Mistakes & Team Dynamics

• Critical Incidents:
  • Silverstone: Home race, suffered collisions (including with teammate), prompting deep reflection on risk-taking and the bigger picture.
  • "That weekend was, was a really, really challenging one for me...after that I...went on vacation for a week and I think that came at a great time." (Ollie, 23:25)
• Team Relationships:
  • Cleared the air post-incident, understanding that maintaining a constructive relationship with a teammate is “non-negotiable” for car and career development.
  • "You kind of have to put your pride and ego to the side and clear the air...in that situation, be vulnerable." (Ollie, 31:40)
• Leadership and Growth:
  • Bearman notes the significance of his boss's (team principal's) balanced approach to conflict within the team.
  • "His first goal was to get an understanding of our views. And that's really important...there was no prejudice." (Ollie, 27:20)

5. Mentorship, Role Models & Learning from Experience

• Peers and Seniors:
  • Bearman admits he tends to bottle up struggles, but recognizes the value of reaching out to experienced drivers for advice.
  • "I don't think you show signs of weakness to your competitors...I don't think I would do that in my nature." (Ollie, 18:25)
• Mentors:
  • Would choose Fernando Alonso for his depth of experience.
  • "What advice would you give to 20 year old Fernando? Because that's my position." (Ollie, 21:37)
• Learning to Enjoy the Journey:
  • Reacts to Alonso’s candid regret:
    "What I regret for sure was not to enjoy more my time, my career." (Fernando [played on tape], 37:31)
  • Bearman resolves to savor every lap and moment:
    "I don't wish away the moments that I'm in the car ever because that is my number one passion in life." (Ollie, 39:00)

6. Breakthrough: Mexico and Beyond

• Career-Defining Moments:
  • Fourth place in Mexico marked an emotional high and a validation of his new approach.
  • "Crossing the line, it was the best feeling of my life...all of those moments flash back through your head and you're like, this is why I love this life." (Ollie, 45:26)
• Confronting Pressure:
  • Racing against Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen brought not only nerves but also "goosebumps".
  • "I had Max behind me. I had goosebumps driving around. I was like, how cool is this? This is insane. This guy is the best F1 driver ever. And he's chasing me down." (Ollie, 39:49)
• Mindset Shift:
  • Bearman began to embrace, rather than fear, challenging moments:
    "That's what we live for, right? That's awesome. It was incredible." (Ollie, 40:45)

7. Outlook for 2026 and High Performance Habits

• Collaboration with Ferrari & Haas:
  • Keeps open communication with Ferrari about struggles and growth at Haas, aware of the different cultures and support systems in each.
  • "I felt like I had to make clear the struggles that I was going through with Haas to Ferrari, because you see the result and that doesn't tell the full story." (Ollie, 49:01)
• New Car & Regulations:
  • Takes pride in helping shape the new Haas car from the ground up and is optimistic about continuous improvement for the 2026 season.
  • "It's our car, it's mine and Esteban's car, as opposed to inheriting a car with tendencies that previous drivers were asking for." (Ollie, 52:08)

8. Non-Negotiables and Advice for High Performance

• Bearman's Top 3 Non-Negotiables: (55:37)
  • Alignment: "Having a clear idea of the goal...what is the target of this session? Everyone needs to be clear."
  • Discipline: "Continuing to build on what you're doing."
  • Maturity: "Leading the team...having feedback and being sure of your feedback."
• Best Advice Received:
  • "Appreciate those moments, appreciate the quiet, appreciate the silence, appreciate the time alone more." (Ollie, 56:34)
• His Advice to Others:
  • "Dealing with pressure...now I've come to realize that that feeling, those goosebumps, those butterflies...that's a privilege...With pressure comes opportunity." (Ollie, 57:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the 10-Minute Change:
  "We said, let's do all the engineering stuff as normal, but instead of going...straight into the car...spend 10 minutes and everyone align ourselves prior to driving the car." (Ollie, 08:09)

• On Perspective:
  "If I told 10 year old me what I'm doing now, I think he'd be pretty happy." (Ollie, 16:45)

• On Silverstone Mistake:
  "Two things you never want to do. Yeah, take them both off in, in two days. No." (Ollie, 23:20)

• On Emotional Growth:
  "I grew up 10 years in 12 months." (Ollie, 33:01)

• On Racing Max Verstappen:
  "This guy is the best F1 driver ever. And he's chasing me down...This is what I'm living for. This is my life." (Ollie, 39:49)

• On Handling Pressure:
  "Those goosebumps...before a race or before a big moment, that's a privilege. How lucky are you to be in a scenario where you're under pressure like that?" (Ollie, 57:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early Season Struggles & Learning Curve – 02:36
• Understanding the Need for Structure – 07:39
• The 10-Minute Change – 08:09
• Emotional Burden & Loneliness – 13:04, 15:01
• Silverstone Debacle & Reflection – 23:20
• Post-Summer Break Transformation – 33:31
• Advice from Senior Drivers / Alonso Tape – 37:31
• Breakthrough Performance in Mexico – 39:34
• On Racing Max and Handling Pressure – 39:49, 42:31
• Looking to 2026 & Collaborative Team Building – 52:08
• Bearman’s Three Non-Negotiables – 55:37
• Advice on Pressure & Peak Performance – 57:18

Final Takeaways

Ollie Bearman’s episode exemplifies the journey from youthful talent to mature, self-aware athlete. Through honest reflection, embracing structure, and a willingness to seek support, Bearman demonstrates how even small changes—like a 10-minute pre-session ritual—can create seismic shifts in personal and professional outcomes. The conversation offers lessons on vulnerability, gratitude, and the necessity of emotional intelligence—not just for racing, but for any high-performance pursuit.

Memorable Moment:
"Crossing the line, it was the best feeling of my life...all of those moments flash back through your head and you're like, this is why I love this life." (Ollie, 45:26)