The last free practice session for Formula 1 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix had a dramatic turn when Zhou Guanyu crashed, resulting in a shortened race time. The main focus of FP3 in Jeddah was on Ollie Bearman, a Ferrari protege who is replacing Carlos Sainz, who couldn’t participate due to appendicitis. This session is Bearman’s only opportunity to familiarize himself with the Ferrari SF-24 before his first F1 qualifying session later today. Despite losing some time due to Zhou’s accident, Bearman managed to complete a qualifying simulation at the end of FP3, securing the tenth fastest time.
A red flag FP3 would have been the worst possible outcome for Bearman and Ferrari. However, he managed to complete most of the program designed to quickly introduce him to the SF-24 before his first qualifying session and debut at the Grand Prix on Saturday. Bearman’s performance was impressive, adapting quickly to the car and paying attention to small details that can make a difference. He raised issues such as an open radio and resetting the control panel, and requested a slightly higher engine mode than usual after his qualifying simulation to push harder on the “cooling” lap and gather additional information on the car’s performance with soft tires.
Bearman started FP3 with three quick laps on medium tires, gradually improving his pace. He found a two-second improvement on the second lap and briefly had the fastest time on the third lap. The middle part of his session focused on a long race with the same medium tires, where he was encouraged to find a rhythm. He consistently improved his lap times, ending with two laps one second faster than his initial times.
Unfortunately, Zhou’s accident prevented Bearman from completing a clean and multi-lap run with soft tires for his qualifying simulations. However, he managed to complete a simulation, which proved to be a valuable test given the busy track and limited time. Bearman handled the simulation well, even recovering from a slightly wide line at Turns 22/23. He finished less than a second behind the fastest driver, Max Verstappen, and crucially, his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.
If Bearman can replicate this performance in qualifying, it would mean advancing to Q3 and putting him in a strong position to score points in his debut. While it may not seem like a significant achievement for a Ferrari driver, considering the circumstances, it would provide a solid foundation. Given Bearman’s progress in FP3 and attention to detail, he may even have the potential for an even better result.
At the end of the session, Zhou lost control of his Sauber and crashed into the barriers in the high-speed section of Turns 7/8. This caused a red flag and significant damage to Zhou’s car, putting his participation in qualifying at risk. The damaged barriers were inspected and the session was restarted with five minutes remaining.
Before the red flag, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull set the fastest lap of the weekend in 1m28.412s, with a seven-tenths advantage over Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. Verstappen was unable to improve his final lap after the red flag, but other drivers managed to reduce his lead. Leclerc was the fastest among his rivals, finishing the session just 0.196s behind Verstappen. Sergio Perez moved up to third place, 0.494s behind his Red Bull teammate. George Russell was the fourth fastest driver for Mercedes, followed by Lando Norris and the Aston Martin cars, led by Fernando Alonso. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured the eighth fastest time, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who complained of instability in his W15. Bearman completed the top 10.
© 2024
The world of sports is always full of excitement and surprises, and this year is no exception. With a variety of thrilling sporting events happening around the world, fans are eager to follow all the action. From football to basketball, tennis and more, there is something for all sports enthusiasts to enjoy.
One of the most interesting stories this year is the meteoric rise of a young athlete in the world of football. At just 18 years old, he is already being called “the next big star” of the sport. His impressive skill and natural talent have made him a sensation on social media and he is quickly becoming a household name.
Another sporting event that is attracting the attention of millions of fans is the basketball tournament currently taking place. With teams from around the world competing for the title, the games are full of action and drama. Fans are eager to see which teams will make it to the finals and who will emerge as the champion.
Furthermore, the world of tennis is also filled with excitement. With big names in the sport competing in the most prestigious tournaments, fans are eager to see who will come out on top. The games are intense and every point is contested with determination and passion.
With so many sporting events happening around the world, it is an exciting time to be a sports fan. No matter what sport you prefer, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the action. This year promises to be one of the best for sports lovers.
