Bearman has become the talk of the F1 community, experts, and enthusiasts ever since his impressive first appearance at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in for the unwell Carlos Sainz after a sudden call.
The young British driver was thrown into the deep end in a highly publicized F1 debut with Ferrari. Despite having only FP3 to prepare, Bearman came incredibly close to making it into Q3 and ultimately secured a commendable seventh-place finish, earning valuable championship points.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1 following the race, Bearman expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received both before and after the event. Among the numerous messages, one stood out – a message from Sebastian Vettel.
“As a long-time fan of Vettel, receiving a message from him was truly special,” Bearman shared. “I’ve always cheered for Seb since the early days of his career. Knowing that he was watching me added a bit of pressure, but it was a pleasant pressure.”
After the Saudi race, Lewis Hamilton awaited Bearman in the parc ferme and embraced him in congratulations. Bearman successfully fended off the seven-time F1 Champion and McLaren’s Lando Norris towards the end of the Grand Prix, making it an even more significant moment.
“And I received a hug from Lewis after the race. It was heartwarming to see that he acknowledged my performance and it was a proud moment for me,” Bearman added.
Working alongside F1 drivers was a fantastic experience for Bearman. He expressed his admiration for the level of performance and dedication they exhibit, emphasizing his own aspirations to reach that level in the future.
With ample support from within the Ferrari team, Charles Leclerc provided valuable assistance to Bearman, who commended Leclerc’s performance. Additionally, while Sainz observed from the pits, he also played a role in supporting his replacement in the Red car. Bearman expressed his gratitude for the guidance he received from Leclerc during the weekend, particularly during qualifying, as well as the assistance he received from Carlos during the race. Carlos provided valuable insights based on data analysis, which he relayed to Bearman’s engineer. This support greatly expedited Bearman’s learning process and allowed him to quickly adapt to the demands of the sport. Bearman attributed his successful debut in Formula 1 to his experience in Formula 2, the feeder series for F1. Having competed in Formula 2, Bearman had already familiarized himself with the circuits, eliminating the need to learn them anew. He also noted that the transition from F2 to F1 demonstrates the competitiveness of drivers in the junior categories, as they receive similar training and preparation. Bearman’s impressive performance in his rookie F1 season in 2023 resulted in a sixth-place finish in the standings. However, in the current 2024 F1 standings, he currently holds the last position.