Oliver Bearman: Hamilton helped me get out of the car

Breakthrough debut

Oliver Bearman, the 18-year-old Ferrari junior, made a sensational Formula 1 debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.

Called up by the Scuderia to replace the unwell Carlos Sainz, Bearman seized the opportunity with both hands, immediately impressing in practice before qualifying an impressive 11th. His standout performance, however, came in the race itself.

Composed drive

Undeterred by the intensity of a Grand Prix start or the first-lap chaos, Bearman kept his composure throughout the 50-lap contest.

While initially outfoxed on energy deployment by the experienced Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hulkenberg, the Briton swiftly adapted, finding his groove during the second stint on hard tires.

Bearman's pace allowed him to match the frontrunners, eventually crossing the line an exceptional 7th.

Paddock plaudits

Bearman's mature drive beyond his years drew widespread acclaim from across the F1 paddock.

Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris were among those offering congratulations, with Hamilton going as far as physically assisting the exhausted debutant from his car after one of the most demanding races on the calendar.

"[Lewis] was basically pulling me out of the car because I was struggling,"

Bearman explained.

"It was really physical...you are pretty much doing 50 qualifying laps."

Bright future

Despite the baptism of fire, Bearman appeared unruffled, stating,

"Honestly, surprisingly it felt like any other race."

His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was also impressed by the rookie's performance on debut.

As Ferrari's reserve driver, Bearman had prior experience testing machinery, allowing him to seamlessly step into the race seat.

However, it was his maturity and race craft that resonated most powerfully, suggesting a brilliant F1 career potentially lies ahead for the young Briton.