Dream debut

“Fantastic”! F1 marvels at Ferrari teenager

Oliver Bearman

(Bild: APA/AFP/Giuseppe CACACE)

Oliver Bearman made a bid for the future with a "fantastic race" on his Formula 1 debut in Saudi Arabia. The 18-year-old Ferrari stand-in outperformed his British compatriots Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, among others, in Jeddah on Saturday, with the shooting star finishing seventh in his first test in the red car. "It was very emotional, I enjoyed every second," said an overjoyed Bearman.

"Ollie" Bearman, who normally drives for the Prema team in the Formula 2 junior series, was allowed to compete in the premier class for the first time due to the short-term absence of regular driver Carlos Sainz because of appendicitis. The teenager set several records in the process: At 18 years and 305 days, Bearman became the youngest Ferrari driver and the youngest Briton in Formula 1 history. Only Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll were younger when they first drove laps and scored points at an F1 Grand Prix.

"It's weird"
"I don't even know what happened in the race. It's weird and probably the first Formula 1 race I haven't watched in a very long time," said Bearman, speaking of a "fantastic race" and an "incredible day". He said it was a great pleasure to feel the appreciation of the veterans.

"He absolutely deserves it and did a great job. He was incredible, seventh in his first Formula 1 race with a practice session in a car you don't know - that's impressive," emphasized Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. Everyone had noticed how talented Bearman was, added the third-placed driver in the second race of the season. "It's only a matter of time before he gets into Formula 1."

(Bild: AP)

Norris expects a lot
Norris was also certain "that we will see more of him in the future". Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur was also satisfied, saying that Bearman had been very consistent right from the start, had not made any mistakes and had given good feedback. The rookie kept up strongly with his role models, improved by four positions from eleventh on the grid and was therefore voted Driver of the Day by a wide margin by the fans.

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, who has already discovered several world champions and super talents, would also have voted for the Ferrari youngster. "Clearly. Bearman has been thrown in at the deep end. It's certainly not an easy track, flawless and sensational," said Marko, full of praise. "You can only congratulate him. You can see that you have to give young people a chance."

At Ferrari, the joy over the strong performance was omnipresent. Sainz personally watched his replacement's performance in the pits one day after his appendectomy. Whether Bearman will also be back in the Ferrari cockpit in Australia in two weeks' time remains to be seen. "I think I've done a good job. That's all I can do," said Bearman cautiously after his dream debut. As a reward, the 18-year-old treated himself to a "nice, big dinner in Jeddah. And a big dessert. I think I've earned that."