Oliver Bearman replaces Carlos Sainz this weekend due to a surgical procedure for appendicitis.
Charles Leclerc [L], Oliver Bearman [R] (images via IMAGO)
The Ferrari driver was ruled out of the Saudi Arabian GP after being diagnosed with appendicitis. 18-year-old Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman was selected to replace the Spaniard in this weekend’s race. Bearman showed great skill in his first time driving the SF24 on Friday. Now, Charles Leclerc has praised his new teammate for his performance.
Oliver Bearman finished in eleventh place in Qualifying, just missing out on making it to Q3. Leclerc emphasized that the Jeddah Street Circuit is one of the most challenging tracks in Formula 1. Furthermore, the high-speed nature of the track makes it even more difficult for a rookie like Bearman.
The Monegasque driver stated that Oliver Bearman handled Qualifying perfectly. The 18-year-old driver delivered an impressive performance without any incidents. Additionally, Charles Leclerc revealed that Bearman was eager to get into the SF24 before the start of Free Practice 3. Leclerc praised the rookie for his exceptional performance.
The British driver secured pole position in Formula 2 on Thursday. However, the 18-year-old driver seized the opportunity to race for Ferrari after Sainz’s medical emergency. Fans had low expectations for Oliver Bearman, who had only one practice session before participating in Qualifying.
However, Bearman certainly impressed everyone in the paddock with his solid performance. The British driver managed to keep a clean race and work well with the team to qualify in eleventh place. If he can avoid any chaos on the first lap in Jeddah, the 18-year-old driver may have a good chance of gaining positions early in the race on Saturday.
It is crucial for Oliver Bearman to maintain his strong performance in Formula 1 this weekend. The F2 driver could potentially convince Ferrari to secure him a place on the grid, albeit with a different team. The Scuderia already has Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc confirmed as their driver duo for 2025. Fans are eager to see how the 18-year-old driver performs in the main race.
