Ferrari made a surprising move at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by giving 18-year-old British driver Oliver Bearman his Formula 1 debut after Carlos Sainz Jr. was ruled out due to appendicitis that required surgery. The team announced that Sainz's surgery went well, and he is currently recovering in the hospital.
Bearman, who is usually a Formula 2 competitor, stepped in as Ferrari's reserve driver for the race weekend. Despite his limited experience, Bearman impressed during Friday's practice session by focusing on longer race simulation runs rather than single-lap pace. He managed to complete 22 laps, the most among all drivers in the session.
If Bearman starts Saturday's Grand Prix, he will become the third-youngest driver to start an F1 race, following Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. Additionally, he will set a record as the youngest driver to race for Ferrari, surpassing the previous record set in 1961.
While Bearman's speed was notably slower compared to F1 champion Verstappen during practice, his performance showed promise for his F1 debut. Sainz, who felt unwell during Thursday's practice sessions, will aim to return to F1 at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne later this month.
Notably, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari for the 2025 season, marking the team's first full-time British F1 driver in over two decades. Bearman had previously participated in practice sessions for the Haas team and had qualified on pole position in F2 before his unexpected F1 debut.
Wishing Sainz a speedy recovery, fellow driver Alex Albon offered support, recalling his own experience with appendicitis that led to Nyck de Vries making an F1 debut as his replacement. The dynamic changes in the F1 lineup highlight the unpredictable nature of the sport and the resilience of its drivers.
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