Following the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari–Formula 1’s Italian Giants–saw Carlos Sainz crossed the chequered flag at P3 at the Sakhir Circuit. The team has been dealt a significant blow as Sainz is sidelined with appendicitis.
However, Ferrari has now replaced the ailing Sainz with the British driver, Ollie Bearman.
Who is Ollie Bearman making his F1 Ferrari debut?
On Friday (08/03/2024), Ferrari announced that Carlos Sainz was set to miss out the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, after being diagnosed with appendicitis which needed immediate surgery, and to be replaced by their academy driver, Ollie Bearman. Bearman, born on 8th May, 2005, currently serves as the reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari and the Haas F1 team in Formula One.
Additionally, he competes for Prema Racing in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Ollie, as he is known, made his Formula debut with US Racing at the 2020 ADAC Formula 4 Championship, where he achieved the distinction of becoming the first driver to secure two consecutive Formula 4 titles in a single year.
In 2022, Oliver finished third in the F3 driver’s championship, and recorded four F2 wins in 2023, including two in Baku. In the 2023 Formula 2 championship, Ollie was sixth in the standings, becoming the second-highest rookie.
Bearman grabbed the pole position in Thursday’s F2 qualifying session. He has previously driven in two F1 FP1–prior to the FP3 session with Ferrari on Friday–sessions for Haas- at Mexico and Abu Dhabi in 2023.
Bearman, aged 18 years and 306 days, is ready to make his official debut in Formula One at today’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This accomplishment will designate him as the youngest-ever driver for Ferrari and the youngest-ever British F1 driver.
Oliver will also become the 776th driver to participate in an F1 Grand Prix and the 97th to do so for Ferrari. Just a few days shy of turning 19, Ollie Bearman is on the verge of becoming one of the youngest F1 drivers to make their debut.
Will Ollie Bearman be the youngest F1 driver ever?
The debut of Ollie Bearman will add more youth to current F1 roster filled with dynamic youngsters, aside from the ‘experienced anomalies’ like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. With Ollie debuting amidst so many young racers, the question arises: Will he be the youngest F1 driver ever?
The answer is a straight-cut NO. Ollie will not become the youngest F1 driver ever. He will become the third youngest F1 racer in history at the age of 18 years and 10 months.
Max Verstappen–the reigning World Champion holds the record for being the ‘youngest Formula 1 racer in history’ at 17 years and 5 months old. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll holds the second spot, making his F1 debut in the 2017 Australian Grand Prix, at the age of just 18 years 4 months.
Ollie Berman will make his official Formula 1 debut with Ferrari at 10AM today (USA time) at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Will Ollie pull off a stunner today at the Saudi Arabian GP? Can he run away with a podium finish at such a young age? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
