During the event, the 18-year-old driver came close to surpassing his compatriot and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, becoming the youngest driver in the history of F1 in his country and surpassing McLaren’s Lando Norris.
After qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he admitted that he initially prepared for Formula Two and felt like he was thrown into the deep end for what would be the longest race of his career.
Despite the overwhelming response he received after securing the 11th position on the starting grid, the first Ferrari debutant since Arturo Merzario in 1972 expressed a feeling of disappointment.
Following the qualifying in Jeddah on Friday, Bearman stated: “Right now, I’m not very proud. The driver in me knows that the car had the speed to reach Q3, so I’m a bit disappointed with that. However, I am confident that in a few days I will be proud of what I achieved today.”
Bearman received the call just a few hours before the final practice session, when regular driver Carlos Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis and needed surgery.
Reflecting on the situation, Bearman said: “Honestly, I didn’t have time to get nervous or overthink it, because it was so last minute that I had to immediately focus on catching up and making up for lost time. I didn’t have the luxury of considering the gravity of the situation. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.”
In an instant, his focus shifted from Formula Two to Formula 1. He acknowledged that the ultimate goal of Formula Two is to reach Formula 1, and he wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away. He believed that a successful weekend in Formula 1 would mean much more than winning a race or securing pole position in Formula Two.
The head of the Ferrari team, Fred Vasseur, praised Bearman for his impressive performance in testing with an older F1 car and his training sessions with Haas last year. However, Vasseur acknowledged that the transition to the free practice session 3 in Jeddah was not easy for Bearman.
“He did an exceptional job in Formula Two on Thursday, securing pole position, which, I believe, also served as good preparation,” added the Frenchman.
With his father David watching from the team garage, Bearman navigated the walls with precision, avoiding any mishaps, receiving praise from those present in the paddock.
Teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured the second fastest time in qualifying, praised Bearman’s remarkable performance. “He did an exceptional job,” commented Leclerc. “Getting into a car he was not familiar with, on a demanding track like Jeddah, and immediately showing his skill in free practice 3. It was a pleasure to witness, and I’m sure this weekend means a lot to him.”
Fernando Alonso, former Ferrari driver and the oldest competitor on the grid, was also impressed. The 42-year-old Spaniard won his first championship title in the same year Bearman was born (2005) and coincidentally stood on the podium during the Grand Prix of his country on the day the British driver came into the world.
Expressing his amazement, Alonso stated: “It’s unbelievable. A wonderful event. He is an exceptional driver. Incredibly talented. Debuting on this challenging track is no easy task, but he performed exceptionally well today. I believe he will have a strong race tomorrow. I wish him the best.” (Written by Alan Baldwin)
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Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, achieved an impressive victory at the Silverstone Grand Prix last Sunday. With a dominant display, Hamilton led from start to finish and crossed the finish line in first place. This was Hamilton’s sixth consecutive victory at Silverstone, making him the most successful driver in the history of the circuit.
The race started with Hamilton starting from pole position and maintaining the lead from the start. He showed impeccable pace and did not give his opponents a chance. Max Verstappen, who started in second place, tried to pressure Hamilton but couldn’t catch up. In the end, Verstappen had to settle for second place.
Another highlight of the race was the performance of young driver Charles Leclerc. He had a great start and managed to stay among the top drivers throughout the race. Leclerc finished in third place, securing his first podium of the season.
With the victory at Silverstone, Hamilton extended his lead in the drivers’ championship. He now has a comfortable lead over Verstappen, who is in second place. It seems like Hamilton is getting closer and closer to winning his eighth world title.
The next race of the season will be the Hungarian Grand Prix, which will take place next weekend. It will be interesting to see if Hamilton can maintain his winning streak and further increase his lead in the championship. Stay tuned for more updates on Formula 1.
