F1 Fans Rally Behind Underdog Driver In 'Driver Of The Day' Vote
F1 Fans Rally Behind Underdog Driver In Driver Of The Day Vote...
Formula 1 fans have sparked a social media frenzy after overwhelmingly voting for an underdog driver in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix. The unexpected winner, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman, earned the fan-voted "Driver of the Day" honor despite finishing just outside the points in his F1 debut.
The 18-year-old British driver became a last-minute substitute for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who withdrew due to appendicitis. Bearman's impressive performance—qualifying 11th and finishing 7th—resonated with viewers, earning him 34% of the global fan vote ahead of race winner Max Verstappen.
This marks the first time since 2021 that a non-podium finisher has won the accolade. The hashtag #BearmanDOTD trended on X (formerly Twitter) following the race, with American fans particularly vocal in their support. NBC Sports reported a 22% increase in U.S. viewership during Bearman's segments.
F1's official Driver of the Day poll has become increasingly influential since its 2016 introduction. This season, votes cast through the F1 app count toward the "Fan Engagement" metric that determines teams' bonus payments. Haas could earn an extra $500,000 if Bearman maintains strong fan support through 2026.
The phenomenon reflects growing American interest in F1, with three U.S. races scheduled this year. ESPN reports 28% of its F1 audience now comes from U.S. viewers, up from 12% in 2018. Bearman's story particularly resonated during March Madness, drawing comparisons to NCAA basketball's Cinderella narratives.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged the trend: "When fans connect with a human story, it transcends sport." The series plans to highlight more rookie performances during this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Bearman will again substitute for Sainz.
Sports analysts note this vote signals shifting fan priorities in F1. "Viewers increasingly value determination over dominance," said ESPN's Nate Saunders. The last time a race winner lost Driver of the Day was 2022, when Sebastian Vettel won fan votes despite finishing second in Azerbaijan.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed Bearman will receive a special commendation. The team's U.S.-based social media accounts gained 18,000 new followers within 24 hours of the race. Bearman's performance has also boosted interest in Ferrari's Driver Academy program, which includes three American prospects.
The F1 Commission meets next week to discuss potential changes to the voting system. Some teams propose weighting votes by users' historical engagement to prevent "sympathy voting," while fan groups advocate keeping the pure popular vote. A decision could come before April's Miami Grand Prix.
With Bearman confirmed for at least one more race, bookmakers now give him 20-1 odds to score points in Saudi Arabia. Regardless of results, his story has already made an impact—F1's YouTube upload of Bearman's onboard footage surpassed 1 million views faster than any non-crash video this season.
