F1's Ollie Bearman finds peace with his dogs, partners with pet brand Vetreska

Ollie Bearman sits down after a Formula 1 race weekend and does not need to explain himself. His two dogs—Freddie, a nine-year-old English bull terrier, and Ruby, a six-year-old Boston terrier—do not care how the track went. They care only that he is home. "They don't care how the race went. They just like being part of the pack," the 21-year-old British driver says. For Bearman, who describes himself as intensely competitive and relentlessly focused on becoming faster and smoother behind the wheel, this indifference is precisely the point. His dogs offer him something the sport cannot: permission to stop.

That relationship has now become the foundation of an unlikely partnership. In May, Vetreska, a Singapore-based global pet lifestyle brand, named Bearman as its official global luxury pet accessories partner. Freddie and Ruby now appear alongside him in campaign material—the first crossover between the worlds of Formula 1 and pet lifestyle. The collaboration extends to a new motor racing-inspired collection called Circuit, featuring rope leashes, quick-fit harnesses, and poop-bag dispensers in racing red, silver, and black. The range will debut at a Vetreska pop-up at Ion Orchard from October 3 to 11, with Bearman making a closed-door appearance on October 6 to discuss the partnership and participate in a pet fashion runway.

For Bearman, the appeal lay partly in its unexpectedness. "It's certainly not your typical F1 partnership. I don't think there are any other pet brands on the grid. But that's what I really liked about it," he explains. Founded in 2017, Vetreska designs playful, colorful pet products—furniture, toys, bowls, walking accessories—with an emphasis on both style and function. When Bearman learned that the brand viewed pets not merely as animals but as family members, the fit felt natural. "I love animals, especially dogs," he says. "And when I learnt more about Vetreska, I liked how it sees pets—not just as animals, but as family members. That's how I see Freddie and Ruby."

Bearman's attachment to animals runs deep. Growing up, his household included horses, rabbits, a cat, and dogs—a menagerie that sometimes felt like a zoo. He had a husky from birth. Freddie and Ruby arrived as puppies and developed distinct personalities. Ruby is playful and inquisitive, always wanting to know what is happening and be part of it. Freddie is calmer, content to move at his own pace. "They balance each other out quite well," Bearman says. "Ruby brings the energy and Freddie keeps things calm."

Bearman's rise through motor racing has been swift. He made his Formula 1 debut at 18 during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in on short notice for an unwell Carlos Sainz and finishing seventh. He became a full-time driver in 2025, achieving a career-best fourth-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix that year. Now in his second full season, he continues to score points—including a fifth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix in March. He will return to Singapore for the Singapore Grand Prix from October 9 to 11, where the Marina Bay Street Circuit will host a Sprint race for the first time in 2026.

Yet the demands of the sport have reshaped his life. His globe-trotting schedule means he sees Freddie and Ruby far less often than he once did. He misses the ordinary moments—wagging tails in the morning, playing outside together. But those absences make homecoming more precious. "They're always very excited to see me. And I'm excited to see them," he says. Even at home, racing is rarely distant; he has a simulator in his house. His dogs give him reason to step outside that bubble. "When it's time for a break, it's great to spend time with Freddie and Ruby. Simple things—taking them for a walk, chasing a tennis ball around. It's a good way to clear my head and refocus."

Their routine is deliberately unremarkable: walks, outdoor play, time in the sun when weather allows. "When I'm home, it's nice to have something simple and normal," Bearman says. "Of course, for them, the real highlights of the day are still breakfast and dinner." After particularly demanding race weekends, that simplicity becomes invaluable. Freddie typically settles close by, calm and steady. Ruby arrives immediately, seeking attention and play. Neither cares about results or pressure. "They're just happy to see you and I think that's what makes them so special," Bearman reflects. In a life built on speed and competition, his dogs remind him that some things—the best things—cannot be rushed or won.