Lewis Hamilton didn’t hold back in praising the remarkable debut of British teenager Ollie Bearman, who filled in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and secured points in his Formula One debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who finished behind Bearman, hailed the 18-year-old’s performance as “phenomenal” and labeled him a “future star” in the sport.
Bearman’s unexpected opportunity arose after Sainz underwent appendix surgery, thrusting the young British driver into the spotlight. Despite limited experience, Bearman impressed with his 7th place finish, outperforming expectations and drawing admiration from seasoned drivers like Hamilton and George Russell.
”To be pulled out of your class and put straight into a Ferrari, he did such a phenomenal job. It has showed he is a really bright future star.’’
Hamilton, in particular, commended Bearman’s adaptability and skill, acknowledging the challenge of stepping into a Ferrari without much prior preparation. The 18-year-old’s promising debut could potentially fast-track his progression to a full-time seat in Formula One, with speculation surrounding future vacancies at Ferrari and its sister team, Haas.
Meanwhile, Mercedes endured another disappointing race, with Max Verstappen dominating the proceedings once again. Despite the setback, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back, emphasizing their relentless pursuit of improvement and the belief that they can close the performance gap in future races.
As the Formula One season progresses, all eyes will be on emerging talents like Ollie Bearman, whose debut has sparked excitement and speculation about the future of the sport.
