Source:REUTERS/Rula Rouhana
[Saba Sports News] In the 2024 F1 Saudi Grand
Prix, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. had to retire due to appendicitis
surgery. As a result, the team promoted their 18-year-old youth training driver
Oliver Bearman, who had recently secured the pole position in the F2 Saudi
Grand Prix qualifying. Bearman lived up to expectations by finishing the race
in 7th place, earning 6 driver points and becoming the highest-ranking driver
from the Beach Grand Prix. In an interview with the media, Bearman revealed that
before participating in his first F1 race, he received a text message from
four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. Additionally, after the race, he
received a text message from Lewis Hamilton congratulating him. Bearman
expressed his happiness, excitement, and pride upon receiving these messages.
Being a big fan of Vettel, Bearman considered it special to receive a text
message from him. Knowing that Vettel was watching him race added some
pressure, but Bearman viewed it as positive pressure that motivated him to
perform better in the race. Bearman also mentioned that it was his childhood
dream to make his F1 debut driving for Ferrari, and achieving this dream was an
incredible accomplishment for him.