Oliver Bearman beat fellow Brits Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris as he made a surprising F1 race debut.
Just 36 hours after being known as up by Ferrari after Carlos Sainz was struck down by appendicitis, the 18-year-old completed a superb seventh on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on the ultra-fast Jeddah road circuit.
Bearman, a Ferrari junior driver who began the weekend driving within the Formula 2 collection, jumped within the automotive for the ultimate apply session after which certified a mightily spectacular eleventh, simply lacking out on Q3.
READ MORE: Why Oliver Bearman’s accent has an Italian twang – regardless of Ferrari star being British
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The Chelmsford driver, beginning on tender tyres, made a gentle begin and benefitted from Lance Stroll’s early crash which triggered a security automotive and a flurry of pitstops. Bearman was among the many drivers to pit for exhausting tyre which he impressively nursed by to the tip of the race.
Hamilton and Norris, who have been on completely different methods, have been closing him down on the finish of the race, however the teen stored his head to deliver the scarlet residence seventh and 6 factors, with Norris eighth and Hamilton ninth.
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(Image: Getty Images)
Bearman, who was named Driver of the Day, wasn’t fairly the highest Brit as George Russell got here residence in sixth. Crisis-torn Red Bull secured one other one-two with Max Verstappen main residence Sergio Perez with the opposite Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in third.
“It was a great race, I was pushing all the way,” stated Bearman. “I was growing in confidence throughout the race.”
(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Straight on the race seven-time world champion Hamilton and Russell headed over to Bearman to present him a pat on the again. Meanwhile, Leclerc stated {the teenager}, who has been linked with Haas, deserves to be on the grid full-time subsequent season.
“He completely deserves it [being named Driver of the Day], he’s done and incredible job from FP3,” stated Leclerc. “He was on the pace. In qualifying he did a great job and he missed Q3 by so little and today he’s been incredible.”
“Hugely impressive and I’m sure he’s extremely proud. Everybody sees how talented he is and I guess it is just a matter of time before he comes here in Formula 1.”
Watching followers agreed with one saying: “That’s an extremely impressive drive from Oliver Bearman. A seat in F1 for 2025 surely awaits.” Another added: “A great show from Bearman! Let’s hope he gets a full time race seat in the future!”
Meanwhile, 1996 world champion Damon Hill posted on X (previously Twitter): “A star is born now. To jump in at such short notice, on a track as intimidating as Jeddah, in a Ferrari of all things, and hold up under immense pressure from Lando and Lewis and keep it together. Wow.”