P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Briton starred on his debut in Saudi Arabia with seventh place in Jeddah.
After his impressive debut in Saudi Arabia, Oliver Bearman is uncertain if he can demonstrate much more to prove he is prepared for a permanent Formula 1 seat. Despite replacing Carlos Sainz due to appendicitis, Bearman qualified 11th and finished in seventh place, surpassing both Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. He made history by becoming the highest-placed driver to score points on debut since Felipe Nasr in 2015 and is the third-youngest driver ever, after Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. Bearman has upcoming FP1 opportunities with Haas in 2024 and was previously considered for a race seat in ’25 before his standout performance in Jeddah. Although unsure of his future in F1, Bearman remains optimistic, stating, “Hopefully a door can open, that’d be fantastic.”
When questioned about his chances of a full-time F1 seat, Bearman expressed his dedication to showcasing his skills this season, given the limited opportunities. With several FP1 sessions planned with Haas, he aims to strengthen his relationship with the team and gain valuable experience on the track. On the possibility of replacing Sainz in the upcoming race in Australia, Bearman believes Sainz will recover in time to reclaim his position, emphasizing, “At the end of the day, it is his car, his championship, so I think he will be fine.”
