Oliver Bearman gave his father an emotional hug after stealing the spotlight and finishing seventh in his first Formula 1 race.
The 18-year-old hugged his father, David Bearman, after his impressive run at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.
The teenager, who was the winner of the day, kissed his father on the cheek and lovingly wrapped both arms around him.
The F2 driver managed to take the lead over another compatriot Lewis Hamilton, who has won eight championships over the years and will join Ferrari next season.
However, Oliver was unable to get past George Russell in the other Mercedes.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Oliver joked that he was ‘a bit tired’ and ‘not looking his best’ after his debut.
‘It was a fantastic race, in which I pushed myself to the limit. I was shocked at how fast we pushed and got faster every lap. That was incredible.’
Oliver hugged his father, David Bearman, after his impressive run at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari
Oliver managed to achieve seventh place during his F1 debut, ahead of Lewis Hamilton
Oliver gave his father a kiss on the cheek yesterday and said he was ‘extremely proud’ of his teenage son
Oliver’s father looked almost sick as he watched him race in his first Formula 1 qualifying session with Ferrari yesterday.
Video showed David Bearman looking visibly moved and breathing heavily as he watched in the Ferrari garage.
Oliver was almost immediately investigated for failing to follow the race director’s notes after possibly driving too slowly, but he was cleared.
David told Sky Sports after the race: ‘I’m extremely proud. He did a good job and did a fantastic job.”
Sainz had to abandon the race this week due to appendicitis, but said the operation went smoothly and thanked fans for their messages of support.
He watched his teammate, Charles LeClerc, take a podium with a third-place finish, alongside Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, who have won two races so far this season.
Oliver previously revealed how special it felt to drive for Ferrari in F1 as he became the first Englishman to race for The Prancing Horse since Nigel Mansell in 1990.
“The stars are aligned,” Bearman said. “It feels like a rapid progression in my career after driving in F4 a few years ago (in 2021).
“I only did my first F1 test a few months ago (in 2023), so my F1 debut in red is hopefully a sign of things to come,” he added.
‘I had no warning. I woke up this morning fully prepared and ready for my F2 race and then got the call a few hours before FP3. These are not the circumstances in which I would have liked to make my debut and I wish Carlos the best, but nevertheless it is a fantastic opportunity.’
Oliver previously revealed how special it felt to drive for Ferrari in F1 as he became the first Englishman to race for The Prancing Horse since Nigel Mansell in 1990
Bearman joined legends Hamilton and Fernando Alonso on the track this weekend
The F2 driver managed to take the lead over another compatriot Lewis Hamilton, who has won eight championships over the years and will join Ferrari next season
Bearman joined legends Hamilton and Fernando Alonso on the track this weekend.
He was just 18 months old when Lewis Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut and wasn’t even born when 42-year-old Alonso won his first title.
The young driver admitted to Mail Sport last year that his ‘pro-education’ mother Terri had to be convinced to allow him to leave grammar school, his family and two dogs behind.
Bearman eventually received his mother’s approval to attend the academy in Modena, 12 miles north of Ferrari’s Maranello factory in northern Italy. Since then he has developed an Italian touch.
“Maybe I was a bit lucky that I didn’t get the Essex accent,” he told Mail Sport last year. ‘Many people have told me that my accent has changed, even though I don’t notice it.
‘I spend a lot of time with Italians, and communicating with people whose first language isn’t English isn’t easy, so I changed my word order and ended up with this accent all over the place.
‘When I moved to Modena it happened quite quickly. It was like going to college two years earlier, but I’ve loved every moment so far.
‘My mother was very pro-school and very pro-education, but in the end we convinced her.
‘I miss my family and my dogs. I have an English bull terrier and a Boston terrier and they are very cute.
‘That’s the negative side. But the food in Italy is a lot better than that in England, and the weather is better too.’
Bearman is reportedly dating Estelle Ogilvy, who goes by the name Silly Lettuce on TikTok, where she shares her fashion inspiration and various outfits of the day.
It is believed the couple want to keep their relationship a secret after sharing a photo together on social media this week, before quickly deleting the photo.
