P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Vettel sent Bearman ‘good luck’ message ahead of Saudi F1 debut
Following Carlos Sainz’s surgery for appendicitis, Scuderia Ferrari enlisted reserve driver Bearman to team up with Charles Leclerc from FP3 onward. Despite narrowly missing out on a Q3 appearance, Bearman started 11th and finished the Jeddah contest in seventh, with Leclerc clinching third place. The 18-year-old received supportive messages from various figures, including Sebastian Vettel and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who commended his performance. Bearman expressed gratitude for the recognition, especially highlighting a message from Vettel, whom he has long admired. He was impressed by the behind-the-scenes organization in F1, noting the intensive schedule and meticulous attention to detail compared to F2. Furthermore, Bearman appreciated the Ferrari simulator’s role in helping him quickly adapt to the technical aspects of driving at the F1 level.
