Ollie returns to school, after moments of glory. Bearman, the 18-year-old Englishman who last week replaced Carlos Sainz at the last minute at the wheel of the Ferrari for free practice 3, qualifying and the race in Jeddah, finishing in the points (7th), ran with the 2022 car at Fiorano. A test that had already been planned for some time (Antonio Giovinazzi will also ride on the F1-75), but now takes on a different meaning looking at the next GP in Melbourne (22-24 March): if the Spaniard, having undergone emergency surgery for appendicitis in Saudi Saudi Arabia, should he not yet be ready for the southern trip (even if there is optimism that he will succeed), Oliver could still be called upon to act as a substitute on the red team.
Verstappen wins the Saudi Arabian GP. Second Perez, then Leclerc. Seventh is the debutant Bearman
by Alessandra Retico
Bearman is in a hurry
A student of the Maranello Academy and reserve driver of the team, he is a starter in F2 for Prema. For now: a bright future is already predicted, everyone has noticed. The red seats are filled in the coming seasons, but there will be a lot of movement elsewhere. The English baby, who was the youngest debutant in Ferrari as well as the earliest in the points, conquered the world of F1 in the space of a few hours. Not only for the result, but for the maturity with which he faced a difficult situation: “On Friday I was having lunch after the pole in F2 and I was thinking about how to approach the race when they called me from Ferrari, a pleasant surprise” he said Ollie in Fiorano. “Not the circumstances in which I would have liked to debut, on the misfortunes of someone else, but still a great opportunity.” Quickly and fully caught.
F1, the report cards from the Saudi Arabian GP: Perez regular, Leclerc the fastest
by Stefano Zaino
The student learns quickly
It’s not a given to reset, to jump into an unknown and never driven car and a Ferrari to boot, to quickly learn the dozens of procedures, to drive on a complicated and fast circuit, also physically demanding, with all the attention on you, without making mistakes. Instead: Ollie not only does everything naturally, but he goes fast. Even more: he is disappointed for not having qualified in the last round and for not having managed to get rid of some slower cars in the race: “But it was the first time I had to use the batteries in a defensive and aggressive way. I lost a bit of time overtaking, I’ll learn if I have another chance. Overall, an acceptable performance.”
Who is Oliver Bearman, the 18 year old behind the wheel of the Ferrari in Jeddah
by Alessandra Retico
Outstanding: In the final 10 laps of the race he improved as he escaped the pursuit of Lando Norris in the McLaren and Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes who were running on fresher, faster tyres. “The most complicated part was the physical one, there are some photos of my sweaty neck and it hurt a bit afterwards. The speed of these machines? It wasn’t a surprise, I’ve already tried the previous ones on the track and in the simulator. Rather, I was surprised by how many things F1 drivers have to do in a weekend, from media commitments to work on the track, the days are very long. The level at which they have to perform is incredible.” Bearman was no different. “A dream come true to debut with Ferrari, incredible, I’m proud.” He’s not the only one.
The message of the idol Vettel
Sebastian Vettel sent him a message before the race: “I’ve always been a fan of his, it was special to receive a message from him, even if it put a bit of pressure on me knowing that he would be watching me. Stefano Domenicali also wrote to me to congratulate me and I was pleased that Hamilton congratulated me.” Many do it. Matteo Togninalli, head of track engineers: “He’s calm, concentrated, he doesn’t panic. Last October he got into the 2021 car for the first time in Fiorano, his mother and father were there, on the third lap he was already very fast, not at all obvious, this is talent”. Riccardo Adami, Sainz’s track engineer, who followed him to Jeddah: “With the little time available we had, we had to give him the most important information, but complete, simple and brief. Ollie was a sponge.”
Head of the Ferrari Academy, Jock Clear: “We are proud of how he represents our school and how well he seized the opportunity he was given. He’s very mature, a thinking guy, he knows how to handle pressure, a pleasure to work with. Ollie has natural speed, but to operate and be fast in a circumstance like the one that happened to him in Jeddah is not common. You have to know how to manage a variety of situations, not just on the track. Many drivers are good and fast, but in F1 it is intelligence that makes the difference.” The intelligence, and strength, of the Bearman bear.
#Bearman #school #test #Ferrari #Melbourne #turn
– 2024-03-15 09:51:03
