Oliver Bearman had an impressive debut in Formula 1, finishing seventh and winning the Fan-Voted Driver of the Day award. Bearman, who is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, made his debut with Scuderia Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian GP. Despite being called up just a few hours before Qualifying to replace Carlos Sainz, the 18-year-old decided to forgo his F2 campaign for the weekend. He had already secured pole position in F2. After the race, Bearman revealed how Lewis Hamilton helped him.
During the weekend in Jeddah, Bearman showed great potential. In his first outing with the Ferrari SF24, he qualified in eleventh place for the race. He also showcased his skills during the Grand Prix, finishing in seventh place. Lewis Hamilton even congratulated Bearman from inside his cockpit during the cool-down lap.
Bearman admitted to facing physical challenges during his first F1 race. The demands of driving modern F1 cars can be extremely challenging, with drivers potentially losing up to 2 kilograms in a single race. The nature of the Jeddah circuit added to the challenge, with low tire degradation and high lateral G-forces putting pressure on the drivers throughout the Grand Prix.
With his impressive performances in junior categories, Bearman is considered one of the most talented drivers in Formula 2 this year. He aims to move into Formula 1 full-time in the future. Although his seventh place in Saudi Arabia may not be enough to secure a seat in 2025, Bearman is determined to win the F2 title this year. There is a possibility that Ferrari could find a place for him in a rival team, as they have already confirmed Lewis Hamilton and another driver for the next season.
En 2024, Oliver Bearman sera un pilote à surveiller. Beaucoup sont impatients de voir une compétition directe entre Bearman et le prodige de Mercedes pour le titre de F2. La question qui reste est de savoir si le pilote de l’académie Ferrari parviendra à atteindre la grille de la F1 en 2025.
