The youngest debutant of all time for the Italian team, at the age of 18 years and 305 days, started in 11th position and finished in seventh place as a substitute for Carlos Sainz, who could not compete in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis.
As he crossed the finish line, he had McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was previously the youngest British driver, and Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion and the most successful driver in the sport, behind him.
“I have no idea what happened during the race,” he told reporters, as praise for his performance under the floodlights of the Jeddah Corniche echoed throughout the paddock. “It’s strange not to watch an F1 race.”
“It’s probably the first F1 race I haven’t watched in a long time,” he added. “I grew up watching these guys compete, so it was nice to share the track with them. It was a pleasure to receive their recognition.”
Praise came from all sides, with Charles Leclerc, his teammate at Ferrari, who finished third, assuring reporters that Bearman, who initially focused only on Formula 2 for the weekend, was just getting started.
“Today he was amazing,” said Leclerc. “It’s extremely impressive, and I’m sure he’s very proud. Everyone noticed his talent, and I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s in F1.”
Hamilton, who debuted in F1 in 2007 when Bearman was not even two years old, and finished ninth in the Saturday race, was the first to offer a handshake and a hug when his compatriot exited the Ferrari.
“He definitely deserves it, and I’m sure we’ll see more of him in the future,” said Norris, who also congratulated Bearman for being the 66th driver since the start of the championship in 1950 to score points in his debut.
The Ferrari team boss, Fred Vasseur, mentioned that Bearman, who was making his first start and pit stops in F1, after only participating in training sessions previously, did not make a single mistake and even managed to increase his speed towards the end to resist Norris and Hamilton.
“From the beginning of the event, he showed great stability, provided valuable feedback, and remained calm on the radio,” Vasseur said.
Bearman stated that he approached the start of the race like any other and modestly acknowledged that having a fast car was also advantageous.
“The car performed exceptionally well today, so that is obviously a big advantage, but I believe we executed a flawless race, without making mistakes, and that is exactly what we were aiming for. I am satisfied with my performance,” he said.
He also pointed out that he now has more points in Formula 1 than in Formula 2.
“I don’t know what more I can do, because I don’t believe I will be in F1 for the rest of the year,” he said. “So my goal was to put on a great performance this weekend, and I think I did a decent job. That’s all I can do.”
“I think I will enjoy a substantial dinner tonight. Maybe even a big dessert. I think I’ve earned it,” he added, acknowledging that a burger might be a more realistic choice considering the team meeting is scheduled to end at midnight.
© 2024
Soccer is a sport that captivates crowds around the world, and Brazil is no exception. Brazilians are known for their passion for soccer, and it’s no surprise that the country has one of the most popular leagues in the world, the Brazilian Football Championship.
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