His long-awaited maiden Formula 1 victory in Miami made Lando Norris the 21st driver from the United Kingdom to become a grand prix winner. More racers from Britain than any other nation have stood on the top step of a world championship podium, a statistic which may be a source of hope for those aspiring hopefuls bubbling under in the junior categories.
Autosport picks out five of the most likely names to follow in the footsteps of Norris, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the years to come.
By Jake Boxall-Legge, Stephen Lickorish & Marcus Simmons
Ollie Bearman
Bearman has already impressed this year when called up to sub for Sainz at Ferrari and has more chances to shine in FP1 sessions with Haas
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Age: 19
Series: Formula 2 with Prema Racing
Highlights: 2021 ADAC & Italian F4 champion, 3rd in 2022 FIA F3, 7th in F1 2024 Saudi Arabian GP
Hotly tipped to take one of Haas’s 2025 seats given his impressive last-minute call-up to Ferrari in Jeddah for the unwell Carlos Sainz, Bearman appears to be the next British cab off the rank. A Ferrari Driver Academy member, Bearman has dovetailed his Haas and Ferrari reserve duties with his sophomore Formula 2 campaign for Prema in 2024.
He sacrificed an F2 pole in Saudi Arabia to cover for Sainz and, with minimal seat time, rather covered himself in glory by claiming seventh place – a performance that team principal Fred Vasseur considered a “mega job”.
Haas boss Ayao Komatsu also rates Bearman highly, labelling the Chelmsford-born racer as “impressive” and gave the team “nothing to complain about” after his maiden FP1 session for the team in Mexico last season. After rejoining the team at Imola, he is set for further FP1 outings with the American squad this term, as it considers options to replace the Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg for next year.
It seems only a matter of time before Bearman steps up to F1 and, should he impress, he may become a contender for a full-time Ferrari drive in 2027. JBL
Zak O’Sullivan
F2 rookie O’Sullivan had his maiden Williams F1 outings after claiming second in the F3 standings last year
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Age: 19
Series: Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix
Highlights: 2021 GB3 champion, 2nd in 2023 FIA F3
The winner of 2021’s Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award, O’Sullivan was duly signed to the Williams Driver Academy in early 2022 on the back of his GB3…
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