Oliver Bearman, the 18-year-old Ferrari junior driver, found himself unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight of Formula 1. The journey of his F1 debut began when Carlos Sainz was sidelined from the Jeddah event due to appendicitis, leaving Bearman to fill in at the last minute. Despite the sudden nature of his debut, Bearman displayed impressive composure during the practice session, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final qualifying round behind Lewis Hamilton. It might have been the result of team principal Fred Vasseur‘s sage advice to him ahead of his flying laps; “Don’t try to be a hero.“

Interestingly, this piece of advice from Vasseur echoes the sentiment of a similar message given to Oliver Bearman by the then Haas team principal, Guenther Steiner during the 2023 season when the Brit was given a shot at testing the Haas machinery as part of F1’s young driver program.

Steiner reflected on a short conversation with Bearman back in 2023 as he shared his opinions on the young driver’s performance in Saudi Arabia in his latest feature on the official website of Formula 1. He recalled that running Oliver Bearman during practice sessions with Haas was a decision born out of a collaboration between himself and Fred Vasseur. This move didn’t require much convincing from Steiner, given Vasseur’s reputation and the promising prospects associated with Bearman’s affiliation with the Ferrari Driver Academy. Before Bearman hit the track with Haas, Guenther Steiner offered him a word of caution. Despite the limited time for discussion, Steiner emphasized the importance of restraint, urging Bearman not to give in to the urge to overexert himself, as young drivers often do.

“Before Ollie drove, I sat down with him, but not at length – we had maybe 10 minutes. I basically said, ‘Don’t overdo it’. I never had the fear he would do something silly by trying to impress. He’s smart. Talking with him, I got the feeling very quickly that he knew what he needed to do,” Steiner wrote in his Formula 1 feature.

Just how difficult was Oliver Bearman’s job at his Formula 1 debut?

The stark difference between Formula 2 and Formula 1

Former GP2 champion and F1 presenter Jolyon Palmer gave his verdict on just how difficult of a task Bearman had at hand during his Ferrari debut. According to Palmer, stepping into a Formula 1 car is like stepping into a whole new world of power and speed. Bearman’s Formula 2 car, which already has an impressive 620 horsepower, doesn’t hold a candle to the 1000 horses on the SF-24.

But it’s not just about raw power – it’s also about finesse and control. Formula 1 cars generate significantly more downforce than their Formula 2 counterparts, which means they stick to the track like glue, especially in those high-speed corners. However, this also means enduring higher G-forces, putting immense strain on the body. Despite being strapped in tightly, Bearman still felt the punishing effects on their muscles and neck, something that Bearman pointed out after the race.

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But that’s still not everything you need to adjust as an F2 driver stepping into F1 machinery. Formula 1 cars offer intricate controls and procedures that go far beyond what drivers experience in Formula 2. From brake mapping to differential settings, every detail matters when going for that perfect lap on the track. And unlike Formula 2, where a great qualifying lap might be enough to secure pole position, Formula 1 demands constant adaptation to get the most out of the car.

What are your thoughts on Oliver Bearman’s debut with Ferrari? Share your insights in the comments down below.

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