F1 fans were left in shock after seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoided being knocked out of qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by rookie Ferrari driver Oliver Bearman.
Bearman, 18, was called upon by the team at the last moment after driver Carlos Sainz was admitted to hospital following a diagnosis for appendicitis.
Sainz has since undergone a successful operation as he now begins his recovery away from the track.
The British teenager has now been asked to fill the seat next to Charles Leclerc for the rest of the weekend in Jeddah.
And after a single practice session, Bearman was thrown into the deep end as he took part in qualifying to set the starting order for the main race.
Lewis Hamilton avoids F1 embarrassment
Having made it through to Q2, Hamilton and Bearman were competing for a place in the top 10 as they locked horns for the final spot in Q3.
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The Mercedes driver found himself teetering on the brink of elimination down in 10th place as Bearman began his final timed lap.
The Ferrari rookie came agonisingly close to knocking out Hamilton as he finished just 0.036s behind the F1 veteran.
And it didn’t take long for the result to come through before fans took to social media to express their dismay at how close Hamilton came to being knocked out by a rookie driver.
What an outstanding lap from Ollie Bearman. 👏👏👏His first F1 qualifying season and misses Q3 by 3 thousands of a second. Lewis Hamilton is lucky to get into Q3. https://t.co/WD6Ngf4LmP
— Stewart ⚽️🧡🖤🏈🐅 (@stewart_buick) March 8, 2024
Hamilton is a lucky man cos Bearman knocking him out would have done irreversible damage to his reputation 😭😭
— Freddie (@FreddieC1123) March 8, 2024
Hamilton is now competing with Oliver Bearman 😭
— KPLC NEED COMPETITION (@JudeOwuor) March 8, 2024
Fans were left in shock at just how close Hamilton came to missing out on a Q3 appearance at the hands of the Ferrari rookie.
Hamilton nearly got bumped out of Q2 by…Bearman? Wow.
— CLA (@ConservativeLA) March 8, 2024
Can’t believe he was so close to Hamilton – a 7 time world champion. Very impressive from Bearman. https://t.co/ibo3u2NfSz
— Ife (@Ifedapomola) March 8, 2024
Bearman out-qualifying Hamilton would’ve been in the top greatest moments in formula 1 history #SaudiArabiaGP #F1
— FUTcrim (@FUTcrimF1) March 8, 2024
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix F1 Qualifying Results
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- Sergio Perez – Red Bull
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- George Russell – Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
- Yuki Tsunoda – RB
- Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
- Oliver Bearman – Ferrari*
- Alex Albon – Williams
- Kevin Magnussen – Haas
- Daniel Ricciardo – RB
- Nico Hulkenberg – Haas
- Valtteri Bottas – Sauber
- Esteban Ocon – Alpine
- Pierre Gasly – Alpine
- Logan Sargeant – Williams
- Zhou Guanyu – Sauber
*Replacing Carlos Sainz
