It’s a difficult time for Tifosi as Carlos Sainz Jr will not be racing at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Spaniard was reported suffering from appendicitis and will be dealing with his medical condition. But what about the race? Who will be driving alongside Charles Leclerc at the Jeddah street circuit?

Introducing Oliver Bearman, the Ferrari Driver Academy Member who started his Karting career in 2013. By 2020, the Briton driver was competing in Formula 4 gradually moving up to Formula 2. This year, opportunity strikes as the young driver will be a fill-in for Carlos Sainz as he recovers from his illness. So what makes Oliver Bear Man the right driver to replace Carlos Sainz Jr? Let’s take a look.

Oliver Bearman’s racing record

Ollie Bearman’s motor racing journey began in 2013 at age 8, quickly demonstrating exceptional talent in British karting. Born on 8 May 2005 in Essex, England the 18-year-old driver is the son of  David and Terri Bearman. Within two years, he achieved top finishes at the British Karting GP and the British National Cadet Championship.

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Transitioning to junior karting in 2018, Bearman’s prowess became even more evident as he secured victories in the Kartmasters British Grand Prix and emerged as the British vice-champion. In 2019, the young driver dominated the international junior X30 class winning the Winter Cup in Valencia and also the European Series, and the World Championships in Le Mans.

He made another transition to car racing in 2020, he impressed in the German and Italian F4 championships despite limited testing, securing a front-row debut. In 2023, he competed in Formula 2, claiming four wins. To make things more interesting, this is not the first time he’s been behind the wheel of an F1 car. He has already gotten the feel of the G’s and the speed.

Why Is the Saudi Arabian GP Happening on Saturday and Not Sunday?

This might be a bad time for Carlos Sainz Jr as he had a promising start of the season at P3 and will lose valuable points early on to his teammate. But as his recovery is the top priority, it’s time for Bearman to steal the show.

How did Oliver Bearman become the youngest driver to participate in an F1 Grand Prix?

Oliver Bearman became the youngest driver to participate in an F1 Grand Prix by filling in for Kevin Magnussen during the free practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City in October 2023. This opportunity arose because each Formula One driver has to give up an FP1 session during the season, and a Super License-holding junior driver takes their place.

Oliver Bearman is set to make his F1 debut stepping in for Carlos Sainz.

Carlos has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery.

Get well soon Carlos 🙏#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/STXRHNgTDu

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 8, 2024

Haas, despite not having a driver academy, was able to call on Bearman, one of Ferrari’s rising stars, as they were supplied with engines by Ferrari. This connection allowed Bearman, who was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, to step into the Haas car for the practice session.

During the session, Bearman demonstrated his talent by finishing ahead of experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and was only 1.6 seconds off the pace of Max Verstappen, three-time world champion. Haas’ trackside engineering director praised Bearman for his professionalism, communication, and feedback during the session, stating that he exceeded expectations.

With that said, the young driver has a great future after driving for the Prancing Horses. For many 18-year-olds, this is only a dream. Taking this into consideration, do you think he will do Ferrari justice by bringing home some points? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments section below.

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