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Teenager Ollie Bearman celebrated becoming the youngest British driver in Formula One history by qualifying 11th in his Ferrari for Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Bearman, 18 years and 10 months to the day, was thrown into the deepest of ends as a last-minute stand-in for Carlos Sainz, who was hospitalised with appendicitis.
But the Essex teenager, with just one hour of practice under his belt, and having never driven an F1 machine at night, came within 0.036 seconds of toppling Lewis Hamilton and progressing to Q3.
Max Verstappen put Red Bull’s continued off-track woes to one side by taking pole position, with Charles Leclerc second, three-tenths back, and Sergio Perez third. Fernando Alonso took fourth, with George Russell and Hamilton seventh and eighth respectively for Mercedes. Hamilton was nearly one second slower than Verstappen.
Follow all the latest updates at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
F1 SAUDI ARABIAIN GRAND PRIX
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Time for the Saudi Arabia national anthem!
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:47
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Jose Mourinho, talking to Sky Sports:
“I am [a fan] but because of my life in football it’s hard to go to grands prix.
I love the sport, respect the talent of everyone and the effort of every team.
“I hope so [return to management], Roma was great – two European finals in two years. I want to work tomorrow but don’t want to rush the decision.”
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:44
Mercedes’ George Russell:
“We hope we can get close in sector one to use the DRS and overtake the McLarens. There’s been VSCs and safety cars here before… but you can’t hope for them!”
He starts P7, with his team-mate in P8.
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:43
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Start time and where can I watch?
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom – and ESPN in the United States.
Highlights of the race in the UK will be aired on free-to-air Channel 4 at 9:30pm (GMT) on Saturday.
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:31
Who is Ollie Bearman? Essex boy with Italian twang driving for Ferrari at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The 18-year-old Bearman made his Formula One debut last season, becoming the youngest British driver to step foot in an F1 machine at a Grand Prix weekend. And he quietly impressed, too.
Bearman was barely three months old when Fernando Alonso won his first world championship in 2005 – but on his Formula One debut in Mexico City, the Essex 18-year-old finished ahead of the double world champion.
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:24
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz is present in the Jeddah paddock!
The Spanish driver has had surgery after his appendicitis diagnosis, and is looking well as he recovers.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:14
Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff alongside Ferrari chief John Elkann in Jeddah
I wonder what they spoke about..
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:08
Driver Standings after one race
1. Max Verstappen – 26 points
2. Sergio Perez – 18 points
3. Carlos Sainz – 15 points
4. Charles Leclerc – 12 points
5. George Russell – 10 points
6. Lando Norris – 8 points
7. Lewis Hamilton – 6 points
8. Oscar Piastri – 4 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 2 points
10. Lance Stroll – 1 point
11. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
12. Kevin Magnussen – 0 points
13. Daniel Ricciardo – 0 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda – 0 points
15. Alex Albon – 0 points
16. Nico Hulkenberg – 0 points
17. Esteban Ocon – 0 points
18. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
19. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
20. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 16:02
Oliver Bearman one of 20 on the drivers parade!
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 15:51