F1: Big surprise at Ferrari, the paddock is in shock

While awaiting the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, another driver had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari last week. This is the young Ollie Bearman, called up at the last minute following Carlos Sainz’s withdrawal. And the British driver shone last Saturday in Jeddah, leaving the paddock stunned.

Following the package of Carlos Sainzoperated on for appendicitis, Ollie Bearman took the opportunity to participate in its first Formula 1 Grand Prix at the wheel of a Ferrari, a most prestigious opportunity. Despite the weight of pressure that accompanied this event, the young Briton rose to the challenge brilliantly. Fans of the Scuderia will be able to wait for the arrival of Lewis Hamilton at the start of next year with the satisfaction of being able to count on a luxury replacement.

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“He did a phenomenal job”

In the paddock, sports directors and drivers were amazed by the performance ofOllie Bearman to start with Lewis Hamiltonthe future pilot Ferrari. « The Ferrari is very strong, but being put straight into a Ferrari here, a top team, and having to go straight into testing without long stints, he did a phenomenal job today and this weekend », Confided the seven-time world champion at the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Worried at first, Frederic Vasseur was also pleasantly surprised by its young pilot.

“It’s a great performance”

« He discovered all the procedures of the race again today: I was a little worried about the management and all that. But everything went well. And then at the end of the race, when we gave him the gap with Norris, he managed to increase the pace step by step, without taking too many risks I think. He didn’t make a single mistake, didn’t hit a wall. In the end it’s a great performance and I’m happy, proud for the Academy because it’s still a long work for everyone at Ferrari, since F4 with him. Today is a very good reward for what has been done. It was indeed a great performance, which went well. For an English driver, finishing ahead of Hamilton and Norris still does it! Afterwards, he knows that the road is still long, he is quite lucid about all that and I think that it is a real chance for us too to have him “, declared the director of Ferrari. Mission accomplished for Ollie Bearman.