Red Bull boss makes Oliver Bearman proposal after F1 debut and questions Ferrari

17 March 2024 , 13:01

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Oliver Bearman has burst onto the scene (Image: Joe Portlock - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has urged Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur to find 18-year-old sensation Oliver Bearman a seat on another team.

British driver Bearman enjoyed a fairytale start to life in Formula 1 last weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, having been called up by Ferrari when the experienced Carlos Sainz was forced to undergo surgery for appendicitis. In a stunning debut, teenage hotshot Bearman finished seventh - above Lewis Hamilton - and made himself an even hotter prospect.

But as Marko points out, Ferrari look set for the next few years. Charles Leclerc recently signed a new long-term contract and seven-time world champion Hamilton has agreed to replace Sainz at the end of 2024. Therefore, Bearman is unlikely to be able to continue his progression in the coveted Ferrari seat and Marko - even as part of Red Bull - wants to see him racing for another team.

"I found Ollie Bearman's debut in the Ferrari sensational," the 80-year-old former driver wrote in his column for Speedweek. "To be on a track like Jeddah like that without much training was really powerful. At times he drove almost at the same level as Charles Leclerc. But what is Ferrari doing now?

"They are buying the expensive Hamilton, Leclerc has a long-term contract, and now Bearman is showing off a super talent. If I were Fred Vasseur, I would immediately find Bearman an F1 cockpit in another team, I don't know, at Haas for example.

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"Now they have to raise money again to train him. The teams are currently relatively financially saturated and will pay dearly for this."

Marko then went on to compare Bearman's situation with that of 22-year-old Liam Lawson, who's currently a reserve driver for both Red Bull and their second team, RB. "Bearman - but also our Liam Lawson last season or Pedro Acosta's debut in MotoGP [last Saturday] - shows what truly exceptional talents they are," the Austrian continued.

Your turn! Which team would be best for Oliver Bearman? Give us your pick in the comments section.

Helmut Marko has given Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur some advice (Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

"Sure, today the boys are all well prepared when they move up. But only if someone is really good can they achieve such achievements right from the start. I found the way Acosta attacked Marc Marquez incredibly refreshing, as did Bearman's performance in Saudi Arabia. We all want to see something like that."

Following Bearman's spectacular performance in Jeddah, Ferrari boss Vasseur was reluctant to discuss Ferrari's long-term plans - especially since Hamilton hasn't even joined yet. "Don't start to speak about after Lewis Hamilton, Lewis is still not in the team!" Vasseur remarked.

"But it's a good signal for Ollie for sure, it's an important milestone. In Melbourne and Imola he will be back on the F2 project, and the most important challenge for Ollie will be this one. He will start soon the FP1 sessions with Haas, and this will be important also for us to give him experience and mileage in the car. But for sure with this one [Jeddah] he has the result in the pocket already."

Nathan Ridley