Oliver Bearman’s outstanding performance during the qualifying session of the Saudi Arabian GP caught everyone’s attention, including Max Verstappen’s. Oliver Bearman, behind the wheel of a Ferrari SF-24 single-seater, was undoubtedly the big surprise on Friday in Saudi Arabia, according to Max Verstappen. In Jeddah, after Carlos Sainz was sidelined due to appendicitis, the young Brit from the Ferrari Driver Academy was immediately called up to replace the Spanish driver.
Despite having only one free practice session to familiarize himself with the SF-24, Oliver Bearman managed to make it to Q2. Not only that, but he was only 36 milliseconds away from making it into Q3, narrowly missing out to Lewis Hamilton.
The exceptional performance of car number 38 did not go unnoticed, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen personally congratulated the Englishman on his driving. “It’s extremely challenging to jump into a track like Jeddah’s: what he did was really impressive,” began the three-time world champion.
“I watched his first few attempts and immediately thought he was doing well. Considering he was only six-tenths away from the fastest lap in Q2 is incredible. He did a truly phenomenal job. I hope he doesn’t dwell on not making it to Q3. His performance should not be overshadowed by that. Everyone saw what he did,” Max Verstappen added.
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Charles Leclerc, obviously, was also impressed by what he saw on the track. “It’s definitely one of the most difficult tracks on the calendar, being a street circuit and also very fast. But he handled it perfectly. Then it was beautiful to see all his emotion for his first race in a Ferrari. Really beautiful, I’m happy for him.” – the Monegasque explained.
Sergio Perez also had high praise. “I have enormous respect for what he did. This track is complicated, and he could not miss the call from Ferrari. Here, you need to have the utmost confidence in the car, and he couldn’t have had it considering how little he knows it. Yet, he did it. I’m impressed.” – the Mexican concluded.
Source: f1ingenerale
