Oliver Bearman, the reserve driver for Ferrari, made his unexpected Formula 1 debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Due to Carlos Sainz’s appendicitis diagnosis, Bearman was given the opportunity to race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Despite limited practice time, he had an exceptional performance in qualifying, narrowly missing out on Q3. In the race, Bearman showcased his overtaking skills and finished in seventh place, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. This impressive performance caught the attention of former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who believes Bearman deserves a race seat in 2025. Steiner praised Bearman’s handling of challenging circumstances and believes he has the potential to succeed in Formula 1. He also highlighted the upcoming contract expirations of several drivers, which could create multiple opportunities for Bearman in the field. Steiner suggests that interested teams should approach Ferrari to discuss the possibility of securing Bearman’s services. Overall, Bearman’s excellent showing in Jeddah has likely increased his chances of securing a race seat next year.
