Max Verstappen ‘impressed’ after watching Ollie Bearman’s first laps in Saudi Arabia

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Ollie Bearman immediately caught the eye of reigning world champion Max Verstappen at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, according to one journalist.

Bearman shone after Ferrari called upon him to replace the unwell Carlos Sainz, finishing seventh for the Scuderia on race day.

And Ben Anderson, a journalist for The Race, noticed Verstappen’s ‘very interesting’ reaction to his early laps.

Bearman didn’t have the chance to compete in Thursday’s two practice sessions because Sainz initially tried to race as planned.

However, after being diagnosed with appendicitis, the Spaniard had to withdraw from the event on Friday morning and undergo a hospital procedure.

That meant Ferrari’s junior driver only had an hour to familiarise himself with the SF-24 prior to qualifying.

He would ultimately miss out on a Q3 slot by mere hundredths of a second, lining up 11th on the grid.

From there, he executed moves on the likes of Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hulkenberg, and fended off Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, to bring home six points.

Ollie Bearman impresses Max Verstappen

Offering his views on Bearman’s debut for the race, Anderson pointed out that Verstappen quickly sized up the 18-year-old.

He says the Dutchman was struck by the ‘hustle’ of the F2 driver behind the wheel.

He said: “I thought it was very interesting that Max Verstappen, no less, watched Bearman’s very first laps in FP3 – to see how this new driver took to F1 in the sort of ludicrously difficult circumstances a driver like Verstappen thrives in.

” Verstappen was impressed immediately by the hustle Bearman showed. The driving was obviously a bit circumstantially scruffy – but Bearman looked like he belonged.”

Will Bearman race at the Australian Grand Prix?

After back-to-back races to start the new season, there’s now a fortnight until the next event in Melbourne.

That gives Sainz some valuable time to rest and recover as he tries to make a swift return to the race track.

The 29-year-old will be determined to minimise his absence as he fights for a competitive seat on the 2025 F1 grid, with Ferrari due to axe him in favour of Hamilton.

There is precedent for a driver suffering with appendicitis and then coming back within a couple of weeks.

Williams driver Alex Albon missed the 2022 Italian Grand Prix with the same affliction and was back in the car in Singapore.

Every case is different, however, and Ferrari won’t want to take any unnecessary risks.

If Sainz doesn’t receive the medical approval he needs, then the Scuderia know they can trust Bearman to deliver.

The teenager won praise from across the paddock for his debut, with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu calling him ‘a total package’ and F1 legend Damon Hill declaring that ‘a star is born’.