At 18, Oliver Bearman already has something in common with Schumacher, Vettel, and soon Hamilton.
That of having driven a Ferrari on a Formula 1 weekend.
And what a weekend!
For his first after having replaced Carlos Sainz at short notice since Friday, operated on for appendicitis, the young Briton amazed with his consistency by finishing 7th in Jeddah.
However, he was not the replacement expected by the world of F1 which expected to see one of the two other Scuderai reserve drivers, much more experienced (Antonio Giovinazzi, 62 races in Formula 1 or Robert Shwartzman, champion of F3 world and F2 world vice-champion).
But, the 2021 Formula 4 champion proved the prancing horse right in choosing him as the 97th driver in its history.
“We did not expect such a result”
First in qualifying (11th), where he was close to pushing Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) out in Q2, then in the race this Saturday.
Acclaimed by the Saudi fans who didn't even know his name, Bearman was very offensive as soon as the lights went out on Yuki Tsunoda, while remaining within the limits.
Rebelote after around twenty laps on Nico Hülkenberg.
The mano-a-mano between the two men remained very clean, to the advantage of the 18-year-old young man who even allowed himself a few pressure shots on the radio.
“He’s so slow,” he says on the radio before diving in at just the right moment.
📻 “He’s so slow!”
Bearman takes Hulkenberg for P9 on lap 21 ⚡️#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/yO6bj1yaQr
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 9, 2024
7th at the end of the race after pit stops by Norris and Hamilton to put on soft tires, the little darling of the public, ahead of the winner of the day Max Verstappen, perfectly maintained the gap with his compatriots despite much less fresh tires.
And this, to cross the finish line in this same 7th place and score his first points in F1 of his very young career.
Carlos Sainz, returning to observe the performances of his replacement for a day, must have appreciated alongside an already conquered Frédéric Vasseur.
🎙️ “I was really proud of myself today.”
A great first success for Oliver Bearman who finished the #SaudiArabianGP in 7th position 🔥
What did you think of the young British driver's race? #F1 pic.twitter.com/GwFDQG7gME
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 9, 2024
“We did not expect such a result from him.
Everything went smoothly and he did a great job, even pushing at the end to keep Norris and Hamilton behind and improving lap after lap.
I am more than happy for him,” explained the French boss of the Scuderia on Sky Sports.
On the track, Bearman received congratulations from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as soon as they got out of the car, and the honorary title of driver of the day.
To conclude a weekend definitely unlike any other.