Reserve drivers to have competed in F1
Oliver Bearman received a shock call-up to the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz withdrew due to appendicitis, becoming the third-youngest driver ever in F1 as Ferrari’s reserve. In the 21st century, there have been several instances where a team’s reserve driver has stepped in for the main driver, here are 10 such occasions one of which includes Sebastian Vettel’s debut for BMW-Sauber in 2007. Another instance was Luca Badoer’s underwhelming performance for Ferrari in 2009 as a substitute for the injured Felipe Massa. Oliver Bearman made an immediate impact on his F1 debut for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, scoring points and defending against seasoned drivers like Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. Despite facing challenges, reserve drivers have often seized the opportunity when called upon to race in Formula 1 grand prix events.
