F1 News: Red Bull chief makes HUGE claim on Ollie Bearman talent

Bearman, F1, Ferrari, 2024, Jeddah, generic — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Red Bull chief makes HUGE claim on Bearman talent

The 18-year-old hugely impressed on his debut in Saudi Arabia

Tyler Rowlinson

Friday 15 March 2024 18:00

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was impressed with Ferrari starlet Ollie Bearman's debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The 18-year-old received a call early on Friday afternoon to replace an injured Carlos Sainz, who required surgery for appendicitis.

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Bearman, who races for Prema in Formula 2 and having grabbed pole position in the category the day before the call up to Ferrari, qualified in 11th place for the race, narrowly missing out on Q3.

His impressive weekend was topped off by finishing his first race in seventh, beating fellow compatriots Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton to secure six points on debut.

Oliver Bearman finished seventh on debut in Jeddah

Bearman beat fellow compatriot Lewis Hamilton

Marko: Bearman should immediately be on the F1 grid

“I found Ollie Bearman's debut in the Ferrari sensational,” said the Austrian. “To be on a track like Jeddah like that without much training was really powerful. At times he drove almost at the same level as Charles Leclerc.

“But what is Ferrari doing now? They are buying the expensive Hamilton, Leclerc has a long-term contract, and now Bearman is showing off a super talent. If I were Fred Vasseur, I would immediately find Bearman an F1 cockpit in another team, I don't know, at Haas for example.”

Bearman is currently the reserve driver for the American team, as well as Ferrari, and will take part in six FP1 sessions across the season for Haas.

Helmut Marko has suggested Haas as a possible fit for Bearman

However, Marko warned that the team may face financial difficulties while negotiating with the driver.

“Now they have to raise money again to train him,” he added. “The teams are currently relatively financially saturated and will pay dearly for this.”

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has spoken highly of Bearman’s potential, but also played down rumours that he could replace the likes of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg for next season.

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Lando Norris Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz Haas