April 1, 2024 4:48 pm
Photo: XPB Images
Oliver Bearman lived a fairy tale in his debut in Formula 1. Chosen at the last minute to replace Carlos Sainz, who had an appendicitis attack and underwent surgery, on the weekend of the Saudi Arabian GP, the F2 driver impressed the all while finishing the race in a strong P7.
To make the story even more special, Bearman revealed that he received messages of encouragement from none other than Sebastian Vettel, four-time F1 champion and now retired from the category.
“It was crazy,” Bearman told the official F1 website. “Being on the track with legends like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, and even getting a nice message from Seb before the race… I grew up watching these guys in 2010, 2011 and 2012. So to receive this recognition was a surreal moment. I replied to Vettel that I am a big fan, a real fan!”
“I have always been a fan of Seb, both at Ferrari and Aston Martin. After the race he told me I did a good job and I should be proud,” he added.
In addition to the idol’s support, Bearman impressed on the track. The Prema F2 driver was just 0.036s away from overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the qualifying session, but ended up eliminated in Q2. Even so, the young pilot was self-critical.
“I’m a perfectionist in a lot of things, but I’m not very organized,” joked Bearman. “My hotel room at the moment isn’t exactly the picture of perfection! But in terms of sport and passion, I’m a perfectionist for sure. I think I inherited this from my father, who always looks for the best in him, and that motivates me too”, concluded the young driver.
Download our official app to Android It is iPhone and receive notifications of the latest news.
This website is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula 1 companies. F1, FORMULA ONE, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV
