14 March 2024 , 07:41
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Oliver Bearman is set for more Formula 1 outings this year after his impressive race debut in Jeddah.
The Briton was called up by Ferrari to race at short notice after Carlos Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis. And the 18-year-old grabbed his opportunity with both hands to finish seventh, beating fellow Brits Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
He didn't have to wait long before getting behind the wheel of an F1 car again. On Wednesday, he took Ferrari's F1-75 from the 2022 season out for a spin at the team's Fiorano test track.
And he remains on standby in case he is needed again at next weekend's Australian Grand Prix. As it stands, though, Sainz is expected to return to action in Melbourne having made good progress on his recovery.
But it won't be the last time we see Bearman in an F1 car on a race weekend this year. Team principal Frederic Vasseur shared his plan for the teenager to take part in practice sessions for both Ferrari and one of their customer teams later in the season.
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He said: "It's a good signal for Ollie for sure, it's an important milestone. In Melbourne and Imola he will be back on the F2 project, and the most important challenge for Ollie will be this one. He will start soon the FP1 sessions with Haas, and this will be important also for us to give him experience and mileage in the car.
"For sure with this one [Jeddah] he has the result in the pocket already. But you have to consider Jeddah is a step, not the final target. He did well this weekend, but he will have other challenges in front of him in the future with F2.
"He will do a couple of FP1s with us and Haas during the season and all of you, including me, in six months' time we won't speak any more about Jeddah, we'll speak about Mexico, Brazil, and if he's doing well or not. And every single day will be a new challenge. But for sure, if he's keeping the same approach as today, it will go well."
Bearman's Saudi heroics have strengthened his case for a full-time F1 race seat next year. Ferrari are full up with Hamilton set to join Charles Leclerc, but Haas are very keen on giving the teenager a chance. Publicly, though, team principal Ayao Komatsu is backing current drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen. Both are out of contract at the end of the season.
He said after the Jeddah race: "[Bearman] deserves a chance next year, I guess. [But] penalty aside, Kev's done fantastic today. Nico delivered as well. So how can I sit here and say, '[Bearman is] our driver for next year'? Based on today's performance, [it's] Nico and Kevin."