As a young racer in the Formula Feeder series, every driver dreams of making it to Formula 1 one day. But the 18-year-old, Oliver Bearman, would never, in his wildest dreams, have imagined that he would be making a surprise F1 debut replacing a sick Carlos Sainz at Ferrari on a high-speed street circuit like Jeddah. In a statement released on Friday morning, Ferrari announced that Sainz would not take further part in the Saudi Arabian GP due to needing surgery for appendicitis. The Scuderia replaced the Spaniard with its reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who took the F2 pole in Jeddah the night before. Former Ferrari boss Peter Windsor believes that Bearman has guaranteed his spot in Formula 1 after his qualifying performance on Friday.

Having missed FP1 and FP2, Ollie Bearman only had FP3 to get used to the Formula 1 machinery before taking part in his first-ever Formula 1 qualifying session at one of the fastest street circuits on the F1 calendar. However, despite his lack of experience, the British driver looked comfortable in the SF-24 right away leaving a strong first impression. He also earned high praise from fellow drivers like Max Verstappen and his teammate Charles Leclerc.

This is just the beginning for Oliver Bearman says Peter Windsor

Bearman showcased impressive skills by qualifying in 11th place after only an hour of getting acquainted with the Ferrari car. Charles Leclerc commended Bearman’s performance, emphasizing how quickly he could adapt to the challenging conditions in Jeddah. Drawing from his own experience, the Monagasque acknowledged the significance of Bearman’s debut, given the challenging nature of the Jeddah circuit, known for its tight walls and high-speed sections.

Despite the physical demands and the limited time to prepare, Leclerc affirmed that Bearman handled the situation remarkably well. Peter Windsor is equally impressed with the performance of the Brit and said that he had confirmed his place in Formula 1. In his analysis of the Saudi Arabian GP qualifying, the former Ferrari boss pointed out that with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc locked in at Ferrari, Bearman might not get a drive at Ferrari, nonetheless, he believes that the Brit has guaranteed his place in Formula 1.

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“This guy is seriously talented and it’s not the last we’ll see of him that is for sure,“ said Windsor. “It’s a bit of a shame really from his point of view when he looks into the future at Ferrari because there’s a lock-in now with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. So no real opportunity for him in the short term to be racing for Ferrari. So it’s going to be I guess Haas Ferrari for him and yeah, that’s okay. He’d be racing on the back of this performance he knows that that drive is going to be paid for and guaranteed I would imagine. So really good performance by Oliver Bearman.”

Ollie Bearman undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the F1 community. However, he reveals that he got a piece of really important advice from Ferrari’s team principal before he got into the car.

Frederic Vasseur gave a no-nonsense advice to Bearman ahead of his debut

The lack of warning about his F1 debut may have worked in Bearman’s favor, as he didn’t have time to dwell on the enormity of the situation. Instead, he focused on getting up to speed and maximizing his performance on track, realizing that a strong performance at the top level can speak volumes about his abilities as a driver.

Later on, he also revealed the advice he received from Fred Vasseur. “Fred, he doesn’t say much, but what he says, he means. He was very clear to me that I have to build it up, step-by-step. Don’t try to be a hero,” Bearman told Motorsport.com. “Especially after FP3, which was already a good session, his goal for me was just to keep going like that, and build it up step-by-step.”

Who is Oliver Bearman?

Oliver Bearman has now become the youngest British driver ever to compete for the Scuderia. What are your predictions for his race results on Saturday?