Ollie Bearman’s younger brother Thomas is already building his way up the single-seater ladder — and now he’s got a very unusual road car to go with it.
The 16-year-old Brit is currently competing in the Italian F4 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2026, one of the most competitive entry points into car racing in Europe.
After starting karting at the age of eight, Thomas progressed into single-seaters in 2024, making appearances in both the Euro 4 Championship and British F4 with Hitech. His early results were modest, but 2025 marked a clear step forward. Competing in a full British F4 campaign, he secured his first race win, alongside a pole position, fastest lap and four podium finishes, ending the season eighth in the standings with over 150 points.
He also impressed in the Formula Winter Series, taking a second-place finish in Barcelona and finishing eighth overall. That upward momentum has continued into 2026, where he finished runner-up in the Formula Winter Series with Van Amersfoort Racing, scoring multiple podiums, poles and a fastest lap ahead of his Italian F4 campaign.
Away from the track, however, Thomas has now been handed something far less powerful — but far more unusual.
His brother Ollie revealed he bought him a personalised Fiat Topolino as a Christmas gift, despite the fact he is still too young to hold a full driving licence.
“No, he’s too young. He’s still 16,” Bearman explained. “But, actually, I got him a little car for Christmas, because in France and Monaco, you can drive certain types of cars when you are younger.”
The Topolino is a fully electric light quadricycle, a category of vehicle that can be driven in certain European countries from the age of 14 or 16, depending on local laws. That makes it legally accessible to younger drivers, even without a standard licence.
Bearman also confirmed the car was customised specifically for his brother. “So I got it painted. I got his logo. It’s called a Fiat Topolino and the door is a rope,” he said. “It’s made for the beach, so you take it down to the beach, and you can park where you want. He feels very happy about that.”
In terms of performance, it’s a long way from anything seen on a race track. The Topolino produces around 8bhp, has a top speed of approximately 28mph (45 km/h), and a range of roughly 46 miles (75 km). Fiat describes it as closer to a moped or scooter in concept, but with the added protection of a small enclosed cabin.
For Thomas Bearman, it’s a practical way to get around — and a rare example of a racing driver being able to drive on public roads before even passing a traditional driving test.
While his focus remains firmly on progressing through the junior ranks, the gift highlights the unique position of a family already embedded in motorsport — balancing life on track with the realities of everyday driving, even if that “everyday car” only has 8 horsepower.
