Oliver Bearman could also be a rookie in Components 1 however he’s already proving to be an distinctive expertise – even when he does nonetheless should pinch himself over who he’s competing with.
“I by no means thought I’d be racing in opposition to Max [Verstappen] in actual life, however I assume some issues change,” mentioned the 20-year-old after a superb drive at Sunday’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix noticed him safe fourth place, his best-ever end in F1.
However Bearman did not simply race with Verstappen, he produced some daring and spectacular driving that even the four-time world champion would have been pleased with.
He even saved his cool within the latter levels of the race when he was being hunted down by Oscar Piastri, who began the day as championship chief and wanted to move Bearman to make sure he left Mexico in that place.
However as an alternative Bearman held on, with Piastri’s fifth-place end and victory for his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris that means the latter now leads the standings by one level with 4 races to go.
Based mostly on this exhibiting, it’s not unreasonable to foretell that Bearman might in the future be in the identical place as fellow Brit Norris and difficult for titles.
For now, nevertheless, he’s simply blissful to be aggressive with rather more skilled drivers.
“Undoubtedly a loopy race,” he mentioned. “I am a bit misplaced for phrases – at one level we have been trying on the podium. I used to be bringing it house with numerous nerves.
“On the finish, P4 is a superb outcome and we obtained each automobiles within the factors. We actually wanted that good outcome, so I am actually, actually blissful.
“It was a loopy race. Good lap one – stayed out of bother, nearly. Then the incident with Max and Lewis [Hamilton] – I managed to learn from that as nicely.”
