Oliver Bearman was called up at short notice to make his F1 debut for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, after Carlos Sainz was struck down with appendicitis.
Oliver Bearman has swiftly returned to the driver’s seat of a Formula 1 car following his impressive debut in Jeddah last weekend.
The young British driver was drafted in by Ferrari on short notice to replace Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined due to appendicitis. Despite the unexpected circumstances, Bearman showcased his talent by finishing seventh in the race, outperforming seasoned drivers like Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. George Russell was the only fellow Briton to finish ahead of Bearman on the track.
Sainz made his way back to the paddock to spectate the race and, as of now, it is anticipated that he will reclaim his seat for the Australian Grand Prix later this month. However, reserve driver Bearman is still on standby in case he is required to step in once again.
Interestingly, Bearman didn’t have to wait too long for his next opportunity to experience an F1 car. Ferrari revealed on Wednesday that Bearman was at the team’s Fiorano track, conducting tests with the F1-75 car that was utilized in the 2021 world championship.
Sainz is optimistic about returning to the track in Melbourne. He shared on social media that he’s feeling much better now. His main focus is on recovering and getting ready for the next race. It won’t be easy, but he believes he can make it.
Bearman’s impressive debut has catapulted him into strong consideration for a race seat on the 2025 grid, if he wasn’t already in the running. Ferrari currently boasts a complete driver line-up, with Charles Leclerc set to be partnered by Hamilton. However, their connections with other teams could potentially pave the way for the talented teenager to be placed with one of their affiliated customers.
He has already participated in practice sessions for Haas and it seems that Bearman is most likely headed to the American squad. However, team principal Ayao Komatsu has stated that he is currently committed to veterans Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, whose contracts will end this year.
When reflecting on Bearman’s performance, the Japanese expressed his admiration, saying, “It’s truly amazing! This circuit isn’t the easiest one to jump into from FP3. So I’m extremely happy for him, he was really impressive. I believe he deserves a chance next year.”
Despite the penalty, Kev has performed exceptionally well today. Nico has also delivered a strong performance. Therefore, how can I confidently declare that Bearman will be our driver for the next year? Looking at today’s results, it seems that Nico and Kevin are the top choices.
Leave a Reply