On Wednesday, Oliver Bearman, who jumped into F1 during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, tested
Ferrari's 2022 challenger F1-75 at Fiorano Circuit.
It is nowadays incredibly challenging to get a seat in Formula 1. Between seasons 2023 and 2024, all of the teams chose to stick with experienced drivers, so we weren't supposed to see a single new driver on the grid this year.
To put into perspective how often a rookie gets the chance to drive a Ferrari during a Grand Prix race, the last rookie to race for Scuderia was Italian Arturo Merzario in 1972.
Nevertheless, the youngster dealt with the pressure better than expected and
finished the race in P7. He even matched the lap times of
Charles Leclerc on a few instances towards the end of the race.
The Monegasque driver recognized and highlighted Bearman's amazing performance after the race when
he said it was only a matter of time before he officially got a seat in F1.
With six Free Practice sessions scheduled at Haas for the 2024 season, Oliver Bearman was definitely already on the radar of at least one Formula 1 team.
But, his showing during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix gained recognition even from top teams like Red Bull.
Helmut Marko asserted he would immediately find him a spot in F1 if he were Ferrari.
The Prancing Horse seems to be doing everything they can to prepare the 18-year-old for a career in F1. While it isn't clear whether he will get another opportunity to race in the Grand Prix this season, Ferrari has already prepared a test run in F1-75 around Fiorano Circuit for him.