Oliver Bearman reacts on social media to ‘mega’ Lando Norris praise after Saudi GP

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Oliver Bearman has given his reaction after he received praise from McLaren driver Lando Norris on the back of his F1 debut.

Bearman held off Norris in the closing stages of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to finish in seventh place.

And Norris applauded his fellow countryman on X (formerly Twitter) after the race, flattering the 18-year-old.

The McLaren was on faster soft tyres for its final stint after a late pit stop, but Norris couldn’t get within DRS range of Bearman before the chequered flag.

The F2 driver, standing in for an unwell Carlos Sainz, had made his one and only stop during an early safety car period triggered by a crash for Lance Stroll.

Lando Norris hails Oliver Bearman

Norris addressed Bearman directly on his X page, writing: “Mega job on your first race.”

Onboard footage also showed him giving the teenager a thumbs up on the cooldown lap at the end.

Replying his own page, Bearman simply used the folded-hands prayer emoji.

Norris himself is a graduate of the F2 championship, having finished in the 2018 season with Carlin.

George Russell won the title that year, and now he’s duelling Norris at the sharp end of the F1 field in his Mercedes.

What has the F1 paddock said about Bearman?

Bearman has won virtually universal praise after delivering on his emergency call-up.

1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill declared that a ‘star is born’ after watching him fend off Norris.

His Sky Sports F1 colleague Martin Brundle also commended the Essex-born racer on his ‘brilliant’ outing.

One journalist even noticed that reigning world champion Max Verstappen was impressed by what he saw from Bearman at the outset.

And, in a positive hint about his 2025 prospects, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu described him as a ‘total package’.

It remains to be seen whether Bearman gets another chance to show what he can do next time out at the Australian Grand Prix.

Sainz will be hopeful of making a swift return but he’ll first need the all-clear from the medics.