Oliver Bearman studied epic onboard footage from multiple race winner before Sao Paulo Grand Prix outing

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It is Deja Vu for Oliver Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix as he again received a late call up to race in Formula 1 before his full-time debut in 2025.

The Brit replaced Kevin Magnussen on Friday in Sao Paulo after the Dane came down with an illness. Due to Sprint race rules, Bearman had to start the race on Saturday, and as Magnussen’s condition has not improved, he will complete the full race weekend.

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix marks the second time Bearman has replaced Magnussen in 2024, as he stepped in at Baku after the Dane served a race suspension for accumulating 12 penalty points on his FIA superlience.

The 19-year-old made his F1 debut with Ferrari in Jeddah, after he received the late call-up to replace Carlos Sainz who missed the weekend due to appendicitis. Bearman went on to finish the race seventh.

The Brit’s 10th place at Baku with Haas gave him the record of being the first driver to score points at his first two races for two different teams. Bearman will be looking to continue his points-scoring streak at Sao Paulo.

But as a consequence of making his third appearance in F1 this season, Bearman no longer qualifies as a rookie driver and will be ineligible for the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

Oliver Bearman watched Max Verstappen’s onboards from 2016 ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Saturday’s qualifying session in Brazil for Sunday’s race was postponed after multiple delays due to torrential rain hitting the circuit. The FIA plan to run qualifying on Sunday morning, but with more rain set to fall, the session is in doubt as to whether it will go ahead at all.

During the delay, Bearman was seen catching up with Rachel Brookes in the paddock on Sky Sports F1 as he discussed his preparations for running in the wet for the first time in F1.

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And the Brit revealed that he had been studying three-time world champion Max Verstappen’s onboards to get an understanding of how to navigate the track.

“Well, I haven’t really driven F1 in the wet before. I’ve done one day, a Pirelli test actually with Ferrari, so at least I’ve driven a car in inters and wets,” he said.

It’s very different, it’s moving around a lot more and there’s also standing water, but I think this track looks pretty fun in the wet.

“I was watching all of Max’s onboards from 2016 [in Brazil], when he was passing everyone, which was pretty cool!”

Oliver Bearman reached SQ3 in Sprint qualifying in Sao Paulo

Bearman has already proven his ability in F1 with such limited time to prepare himself for a race weekend. With these impressive performances, there will no doubt be some excitement over what he can do in a full season with Haas next year.

The Brit’s performance in FP1 was outstanding on Friday as he went third fastest in the session behind fellow countrymen George Russell and Lando Norris.

Bearman continued his pace in Sprint qualifying as he reached SQ3 and lined up 10th for the race. Karun Chandhok was left confused by Bearman as the Brit made the bizarre call to continue pushing in the session after a huge mistake at turn one.

Bearman finished the Sprint race in 14th and had a great battle on track with his teammate Nico Hulkenberg, where the Brit was seen passing the German brilliantly on the inside of turn one. Hulkenberg retired from the race five laps from the end.