F1 News: Oliver Bearman Reflects On Debut F1 Qualifying In Saudi Arabia- "Not So Proud"

Oliver Bearman reflects on his Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying performance.

Oliver Bearman expressed mixed feelings about his debut Formula 1 qualifying session in Saudi Arabia. The young driver, temporarily filling in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, admitted to being somewhat disappointed with his performance as he looks to constantly improve himself.

Key Takeaways:

• Oliver Bearman, standing in for the unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, participated in his first F1 qualifying session.
• Bearman acknowledged the potential of his car for a better qualifying position but expressed disappointment over his performance.
• He emphasised his focus on gaining experience, particularly under the night conditions, due to missing FP2.

Oliver Bearman, the 18-year-old driver who stepped into Carlos Sainz's shoes at Ferrari for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, has candidly shared his thoughts on his first-ever Formula 1 qualifying outing. 

Bearman's reflections revealed a blend of self-critique and optimism. Speaking to Sky F1, he didn't hide his immediate feelings, saying:

"At the moment not so proud, the racer in me knows that the car was quick enough to be in Q3, so a little bit disappointed with that." 

Despite the initial disappointment, Bearman looked forward to gaining a more positive perspective with time. He said:

"But I know that when I look back in a couple of days I'll be quite proud of what I've managed to do today."

His ability to balance immediate frustrations with a longer-term view is noteworthy, especially considering the immense pressure of competing at the highest level of motorsport.

Bearman's strategy for the qualifying session was clear - to maximise his time on the track. He noted:

"The goal was to do as many laps as possible. Especially at night, I missed FP2 which is not ideal. That was the goal.

"The soft tyre lasts quite well, it's quite durable, so just tried to get as many laps in Q1. Q2 was a bit more messy, a few mistakes on my side, so that's where I'm disappointed."

The final qualifying results saw Max Verstappen leading the pack, with Bearman's teammate Charles Leclerc securing the second spot. Bearman himself managed to secure 11th position on the grid.

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