MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Oliver Bearman considers the Miami Grand Prix a highlight on the Formula 1 calendar for many reasons.
The typically sunny weather of South Florida. The fanfare of an event that draws plenty of celebrities and athletes. And it’s the first of three F1 races held annually in the United States, an opportunity for his Haas team — the only American-led organization currently competing in the international open-wheel series — to race on home soil.
On the other hand, Bearman, a 19-year-old rookie driver who will be racing at the Miami International Autodrome for the first time on Sunday, acknowledged that it will be a challenge for his team.
“I expect a difficult weekend,” Bearman said, “considering the circumstances, particularly that I haven’t been here and it’s a sprint (race) weekend. But I also had that in Brazil last year. I also had that in China this year. And I wouldn’t say those are particularly simple shots either.
“I don’t really know how it’s going to go, but I expect that if I have a good feeling with the car, I hope to be able to get as much as I can out of it.”