Oliver Bearman is preparing for his debut as a full-time F1 driver and has already received the blessing of his future teammate, Esteban Ocon. Against all odds, the young Ferrari academy talent scored points in his “second debut” in Azerbaijan with Haas. The Englishman managed to outperform the more experienced Nico Hulkenberg in both qualifying and the race, giving a small preview of what we can expect in 2025.
Next season will be one of great debuts in Formula 1. It’s been a while since the grid has seen drivers with such high hopes as Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman: two “destined” talents who have shown great promise in the junior categories and will soon have the chance to line up with the best drivers in the world.
While the Italian has somewhat stolen the spotlight from his Prema teammate, with his contract to replace Lewis Hamilton, the British driver has already shown he can impress even in the top series. His seventh place in Jeddah, driving the SF-24, and the subsequent tenth place in Azerbaijan with the more modest VF-24, are the best possible credentials the 19-year-old could hope to achieve.
“What he did in Baku was really remarkable,” acknowledged Esteban Ocon, his future teammate in the American team. “I think everyone in the paddock knew he was a remarkable talent, and what he did was really impressive, being sharp right away on such a technical track.”
“We talked a little, but we’ve been so busy that unfortunately, it wasn’t enough,” said the Frenchman. “This winter, we’ll spend a lot of time together and will be able to catch up, and that aspect doesn’t worry me. It was really nice to see him shine in Baku, and I’m happy for him and for the team.” – Esteban Ocon concluded.
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