I scored points on F1 debut like Oliver Bearman, he deserves a chance but ‘never assume Lewis Hamilton is a mistake’

Oliver Bearman may have beaten Lewis Hamilton to score points on his Formula 1 debut - but don't expect him to win the race to a Ferrari seat.

That is the view of former F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne - who enjoyed the same breakthrough into motorsports' elite as the Essex teenager.

5

The 2021/22 Formula E World Champion was McLaren's third driver for the 2016 season when he found himself thrust behind the wheel.

After Fernando Alonso was ruled out of the Bahrain Grand Prix on medical grounds, Vandoorne seized the chance to impress.

The Belgian finished tenth - ahead of teammate Jenson Button - to become the first reserve driver to score points on debut since four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in 2007.

Eight years ago Bearman followed suit in similar circumstances when he deputised in Saudi Arabia for Carlos Sainz - who missed the race due to undergoing surgery for appendicitis.

Read more on F1

Oliver Bearman beats Lewis Hamilton to secure P7 in stunning Formula 1 debut

Wolff teases Red Bull chief who spent years offending Hamilton is welcome at Mercedes

Born in Chelmsford, Essex, Bearman became the youngest British driver ever to race in a Formula 1 Grand Prix last weekend.

The Ferrari academy driver had qualified on pole for the Formula 2 race before making the jump only hours before the final practice session.

Bearman went on to qualify 11th before an impressive Sunday stint saw him beat Hamilton to score six points on his debut.

During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT ahead of the Sao Paulo ePrix, Vandoorne said: "I think he had a great, great debut race.

Most read in Motorsport

'We have to do better' - Frustrated Hamilton and Leclerc to hold internal talks

Two riders die after horror crash which resulted in 11-bike pile-up

'He was on the ground clinching his stomach' - F1 star in surprise presser disappearance

F1 race dates, results and UK start times for entire 2025 season featuring Lewis Hamilton

5

"It's never easy to jump into a Formula One car and to perform at the highest level.

"He missed FP1, FP2, so he only had kind of an hour of practice. I think he was kind of lucky he did the F2 practice before and qualified the car on pole so it's obviously a circuit that suited him very well.

"But still Formula One takes it to the next level the cars are so fast. There was a lot of sudden media attention and pressure that comes on your shoulders, and he dealt with that very well. They had a very solid race and there's nothing more he could have done."

Vandoorne's impressive F1 debut put him in line to replace Button for both the 2017 and 2018 seasons, with Bearman's heroics leading to similar calls.

5

5

Hamilton stunned the world of sport last month by confirming he will leave Mercedes to join the Scuderia for the 2025 season.

The seven-time world champion has signed a multi-year deal with the Italian team, which will take him into his forties.

Bearman is expected to be alongside him on the 2025 F1 grid - but with the Ferrari-powered Haas team instead.

However, while his potential has led to calls that the 18-year-old could be thrust straight in at a top team, Vandoorne backed Ferrari's decision to put Hamilton in red.

He added: "Everyone is pretty convinced that [Bearman] will get that seat - or get a seat.

"We'll have to wait and see, Formula One is a funny world sometimes.

5

"It's hard to make predictions but definitely deserves a chance and I hope he find his way there.

"I wouldn't say [signing] Lewis [Hamilton] is a mistake. Never assume Lewis is a mistake.

"He's still the most successful driver on the grid and if they get Lewis in at the top of his game they'll not regret it!"