Becoming a big name in motorsport isn’t easy. One must sacrifice a lot to reach the goal, living a normal life isn’t possible in most cases. At one point, drivers as young as 12 years old need to leave their homes and shift to a different city or country. It’s not easy, as you’ve already guessed. However, the result is mostly fruitful. But, the saddest part here is loneliness, even Oliver Bearman fears the tentacles of forlornness.

Even before his debut, the 19-year-old is fearing the inevitable. Bearman is used to staying away from his family. He left his home to move to Italy with Ferrari, and throughout the year Ollie has to travel around the world. Only summer breaks and weeks off are the only times he can spend with his loved ones. Moreover, F1 and motorsport in general are so competitive and fierce that sometimes even friendships are at stake for championship titles.

Oliver Bearman shares his fears and experiences with loneliness in the racing world

The Haas-bound driver moved out of his home at the age of 15. It must have been difficult in the initial days. “At the beginning, I found it difficult,” shared Oliver Bearman. All his friends and family were in the UK and he knew no one in Maranello. However, with time, things began to ease for Ollie. There were times when he’d question himself: “How much do I want this?” He wanted to know if the sacrifices he was making were worth everything or not. But, right now, it looks like Bearman’s efforts and compromises were for the best.

At the same time, Oliver shares how he felt in his tough times. His statements resonate with Lando Norris’ previous claims on how isolated one can feel in motorsport. Ollie stated: “At some stages, there wasn’t any light at the end of the tunnel. That’s difficult to stay motivated and driven. When you don’t see an end goal; and I remember some points where you know loneliness is a real thing in top-level sport.” It is probably the busy schedule that keeps them going. Sometimes, it’s sad to just realize how much drivers like Oliver Bearman are giving up at such a young age to pursue their dreams.

Staying away from family and not seeing friends for long periods are just a few of the sacrifices. A lot more goes into the creation of an F1 driver. The most interesting part of this is the fact the drivers never regret their decision. Even Lando Norris has shared how challenging it can be, especially with constant loneliness.

Lando Norris weighed in on the isolation he left initially and sometimes even now

Just like Oliver Bearman, even Lando Norris had to give up on many beautiful things in life. When kids his age were going to school and making new friends, Lando was out in the circuits, karting- chasing his passion. “My whole life was racing. Whenever I was at school I was watching racing videos, and sitting on my own. Obviously, I did make some friends, but not best friends,” shared the McLaren driver.

The stress is intense, but Lando doesn’t complain. “It’s a different life,” he says of the Formula 1 world, continuing, “A lonely one in many respects. But I’ve never been one to say, ‘I wish I could go back and change it’. I’m very, very lucky to be a Formula 1 driver. I would never complain.” Despite the loneliness that F1 has to offer, Lando loves his profession. Of course, he’s given his all into reaching the pinnacle of motorsport. This is everything that drivers like Oliver Bearman, Lando Norris, and others ever wanted.

Life in F1 is indeed difficult. These petrolhead, speed freaks rarely show their human side. It can be saddening at times, but it is what it is. Now that the summer break is about to end, the same grid will commence. Will loneliness return? Yes. But will the drivers cave in? Never.