Max Verstappen's triumph at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix may have been the main headline, but it was young upstart Oliver Bearman who captured the hearts of fans with his remarkable debut for Ferrari. The 18-year-old was thrown into the spotlight after Carlos Sainz Jr. was sidelined with appendicitis, leaving Bearman with just a brief window to prepare for his unexpected Formula 1 debut.

Despite his lack of experience at the elite level, Bearman showcased his talent and determination by starting 11th on the grid and fighting his way into the points with a mesmerizing display of overtaking skills. “The car was mega today, so thank you. I really enjoyed it. It was so much fun out there,” the British driver told Ferrari over the radio.

With his father and Ferrari executives looking on anxiously, Bearman held his ground against more seasoned competitors, securing a commendable seventh-place finish that earned him six valuable points. “Destroyed," he said after the race. "Physically it was a really difficult race! Especially in the end, when I had the two guys on soft behind me, I had to basically push flat out and it was a mentally difficult race as expected, and physically I was struggling too, but great fun out there.”

The young British driver's unexpected rise to prominence adds an exciting new chapter to the ever-evolving narrative of Formula 1, leaving fans eager to see what the future holds for this promising talent. On being asked about his fitness, Bearman answered: “I think especially my lower back and my neck, it’s hurting. These seats take a bit of fine-tuning, and as this is the first race, we didn’t really have time to focus on that.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen enjoyed a strong start and ensured a healthy lead to win the race, with his teammate Sergio Perez coming second.