FORMULE ONE’S newest young gun was involved in an awkward moment after making his bow in the fast lane.
The 18-year-old Oliver Bearman produced a brilliant performance to finish seventh in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari prodigy became the youngest Brit to ever race in F1 and is the third youngest driver ever.
Bearman managed to place in front of compatriots Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
He also finished ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, 36.
After the race, Bearman was quizzed about his battle to overtake Hulkenberg by Sky Sports.
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He was then asked to clarify whether when he said “too slow” on his radio he was talking about his own car’s performance.
However, the youngster revealed that he was in fact telling them that Hulkenberg was “so slow” – and the timing of his candid admission could not have been worse.
Just as the words were leaving his mouth, his German rival walked straight behind him.
The experienced driver then winked at someone as Bearman, who may not have noticed, nervously swiped his forehead.
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Baarman’s moment in the spotlight came after he got the call to be a replacement for Carlos Sainz in Saudi as the star underwent surgery for appendicitis.
He joined Ferrari’s driver academy at the age of 16 and quit school against his mother’s wishes and moved to Modena — close to Ferrari’s headquarters in northern Italy.
In 2023, he came sixth in the Formula Two championship.
Bearman has been tipped as a future star after he was snapped up as part of Ferrari’s young driver scheme.
His road to the top began in 2021 as he won the F4 series in both Italy and Germany.
After moving up to F3, the teen sensation finished in third and was promoted to F2 in 2023 with Prema Racing.
The racer featured in Mexico City and Abu Dhabi practice sessions with Haas during the 2023 season.
He impressed in Mexico, where he became Britain’s youngest-ever F1 driver, finishing ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in practice.
His big appearance comes after Hamilton’s upcoming switch to Ferrari next year.
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And the legend hailed Bearman after his performance, saying: “To be pulled out of your class and put straight into a Ferrari, he did such a phenomenal job.
“It has showed he is a really bright future star.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
