Bearman stepped in for Carlos Sainz during the third free practice session at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as Sainz underwent surgery for appendicitis. Despite having only one hour of practice on a challenging high-speed circuit, the 18-year-old showcased impressive performance, narrowly missing out on reaching Q3.
Starting from 11th on the grid, Bearman engaged in fierce battles with competitors like Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hulkenberg, ultimately securing a commendable seventh-place finish. His strong and consistent performance in the latter part of the race earned praise from spectators.
Bearman made his debut in Formula 1 last year, participating in two FP1 sessions for Haas in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. His promising performances led to his appointment as a reserve driver for both Ferrari and Haas for the 2024 season.
Commenting on Bearman’s performance in Jeddah, Haas chief Komatsu lauded it as “amazing,” considering the challenging circumstances of joining midweek during a race weekend. While acknowledging Bearman’s potential for a full-time F1 seat in 2025, Komatsu emphasized that no decisions have been finalized regarding Haas’ driver lineup.
Despite Bearman’s impressive performance, Komatsu highlighted the solid performances of the current drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, who secured Haas’ first point of the season in 10th place.
As such, Komatsu refrained from making definitive statements about Bearman’s future with the team, stressing the importance of evaluating all options.
Komatsu also expressed his confidence in Bearman’s abilities, noting his maturity and adaptability demonstrated during previous engagements with Haas. Bearman will resume his Formula 2 campaign in Melbourne after missing the Jeddah races, remaining available for reserve driver duties if needed.