Ferrari engineer reveals what Oliver Bearman did three laps into first F1 test

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Oliver Bearman showed his talent within three laps of his first Formula 1 test, according one high-ranking Ferrari engineer.

Bearman impressed on an emergency F1 debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last time out and is waiting to see whether he’ll race in Australia this weekend.

Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari’s Head of Track Engineering, has now shared his recollections of Bearman’s very first laps in F1 machinery.

Ferrari called Bearman up from the F2 championship when Carlos Sainz had to withdraw from the weekend with appendicitis.

He would finish seventh in the race to bring home six points for the team and win the driver of the day award.

18-year-old Bearman became the youngest British driver to compete in a Grand Prix and the third-youngest overall.

Ferrari may yet need him to remain in the car in Melbourne depending on Sainz’s progress in his recovery.

Matteo Togninalli shares what Oliver Bearman did to impress him

In comments relayed by Formu1a.uno, Togninalli said Bearman handled the pressure of his first test in commendable fashion.

He joined Ferrari in 2022 and predominantly focused on simulator work before moving towards on-track running the following year.

Bearman drove in his first F1 sessions with the Ferrari-linked Haas team in practice for the Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix.

And Togninalli says he earned the faith of the team from a very early stage.

“He got into an F1 car for the first time in his life with his mother and father close, and on the third lap of Fiorano with a new car and on a new track, in a new situation, he was immediately up to speed,” he said. “That’s talent.”

Will Bearman race in F1 next year?

Bearman impressed virtually the entire paddock in Saudi Arabia, with ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert hailing a ‘very smartly’ executed race.

Whether or not he competes in Australia this weekend, he’s clearly given his chances of a full-time 2025 seat a major boost.

Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner reckons ‘a lot of teams’ will be looking into a move for Bearman after he dismissed some of the possible ‘doubts’ around his readiness.

His old team could be the likeliest destination, with both Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg out of contract at the end of the season.

ESPN’s Laurence Edmondson says he would be ‘very surprised’ if the teenager didn’t land the drive.

He will have the chance to show what he can do in six further practice sessions for the American outfit this year.