Max Verstappen triggers F1 driver 'goosebumps' in unforgettable moment

Oliver Bearman has revealed that he had "goosebumps" the first time he battled Max Verstappen, which occurred in last season's Mexico City Grand Prix.

Bearman's best result of his rookie campaign came at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where he finished fourth despite starting towards the back of the top 10.

The Haas driver capitalised on a battle between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton with a superb move on the Dutchman at Turn 4, in what was one of the standout overtakes of 2025.

It left Bearman in the unusual position of being ahead of the four-time world champion, as well as Oscar Piastri, George Russell, and Hamilton, who was penalised.

Verstappen hunted the 20-year-old down in the fight for the final podium spot and breezed past, with Bearman still remembering the sensation of battling the biggest names in the sport.

Watching Verstappen in his mirrors close him down at a rapid rate was a surreal moment for Bearman, who took great joy from fighting with the Red Bull driver.

Asked how he savoured the moment when dealing with the pressure of fighting such big names for the first time, Bearman told the High Performance podcast: "Well, I was thinking, this is the first time I've gone side by side with Lewis, with Max, with even George and Piastri — all of these drivers, some of whom I've grown up watching.

"Max has been on TV [for so long], in 2016 I was 11 — so every F1 race I can remember has had Max in it, and certainly Lewis as well. So I'm racing with these guys side by side.

"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. You know, he's putting me under so much pressure. And I was like, this is what I'm living for. This is my life."