Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

F1 Saudi Arabia GP 2024 LIVE: Race results, updates and times as Ollie Bearman scores points on debut

Follow all the latest updates from the race in Jeddah as Bearman scores points on a terrific F1 debut

Kieran Jackson
Formula 1 Correspondent
Saturday 09 March 2024 21:22 GMT
Comments
Christian Horner breaks silence after accuser suspended by Red Bull

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Max Verstappen romped to another commanding win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as rookie British teenager Ollie Bearman completed a dream debut by beating Lewis Hamilton to finish a brilliant seventh.

Despite threatening to quit Red Bull just 24 hours previously, following another twist in the ongoing Red Bull saga, Verstappen followed his win at the season-opening round in Bahrain last Saturday with another comfortable triumph in his all-conquering machine – remarkably his 19th in 20 appearances.

Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third. But for Bearman, just three months old when Hamilton made his debut in 2007, this will be a night he will never forget.

Handed his shock debut as an 11th-hour stand-in for Carlos Sainz, the boy from Chelmsford, 18 years, 10 months and one day, drove into the record books as the youngest British driver to start a Formula One race.

Follow all the latest updates at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins Saudi GP as 18-year-old Brit Ollie Bearman shines bright on debut

Max Verstappen romped to another commanding win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as rookie British teenager Ollie Bearman completed a dream debut by beating Lewis Hamilton to finish a brilliant seventh.

Despite threatening to quit Red Bull just 24 hours previously, following another twist in the ongoing Red Bull saga, Verstappen followed his win at the season-opening round in Bahrain last Saturday with another comfortable triumph in his all-conquering machine – remarkably his 19th in 20 appearances.

Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.

But for Bearman, just three months old when Hamilton made his debut in 2007, this will be a night he will never forget.

Handed his shock debut as an 11th-hour stand-in for Carlos Sainz, the boy from Chelmsford, 18 years, 10 months and one day, drove into the record books as the youngest British driver to start a Formula One race.

Max Verstappen wins Saudi GP as Ollie Bearman shines bright on debut

World champion Verstappen won his 19th race out of 20, while 18-year-old Bearman was seventh for Ferrari

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 20:36

‘I’d love to have him’: Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen unrest at Red Bull

Toto Wolff has revealed for the first time that he would love to have Max Verstappen at Mercedes – as Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted no individual is bigger than the team.

Verstappen’s Red Bull future is in the spotlight amid the in-fighting at Formula One’s dominant franchise.

The Dutchman, who won Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to land his second win of the season – and his ninth in a row – opened the door to sensationally quitting Red Bull if motorsport adviser Helmut Marko is forced out.

It emerged this weekend that Marko could be suspended as a result of Red Bull’s inquiry into Horner, although the 80-year-old Austrian said prior to Saturday’s race that he expects to carry on.

However, the unrest at Red Bull has put Mercedes – seeking a replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton in 2025 – on red alert.

‘I’d love to have him’: Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen unrest at Red Bull

Verstappen’s Red Bull future is in the spotlight amid the in-fighting at Formula One’s dominant franchise

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 21:20

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix:Damon Hill hails Ollie Bearman after impressive debut drive for Ferrari: ‘A star is born’

Damon Hill said a star was born after rookie teenager Ollie Bearman beat Lewis Hamilton on his shock Ferrari debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Bearman drove into the record books by becoming the youngest British driver to race in Formula One and he delivered by finishing seventh, ahead of both Lando Norris, eighth and Hamilton, ninth.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton waited by Bearman’s Ferrari before embracing the 18-year-old as he climbed out of his scarlet machine at the end of the race.

“A star is born now,” Hill, the 1996 world champion, said on X.

“To jump in at such short notice, on a track as intimidating as Jeddah, in a Ferrari of all things, and hold up under immense pressure from Lando and Lewis and keep it together. Wow.”

Damon Hill hails Bearman after impressive debut drive for Ferrari: ‘A star is born’

The 18-year-old Briton finished seventh in Saudi Arabia after a terrific debut drive for the Scuderia

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 20:59

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: TOP-10 IN JEDDAH

1. Max Verstappen

2. Sergio Perez

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Oscar Piastri

5. Fernando Alonso

6. George Russell

7. Ollie Bearman

8. Lando Norris

9. Lewis Hamilton

10. Nico Hulkenberg

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 19:52

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen:

“It’s important to have peace in the team and focus on the driving and performance, so that’s what we do at the team.”

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 19:39

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Red Bull boss Christian Horner...

“A lot is made of this stuff but we are one team. Nobody is bigger than the team. Everybody has a role to play, from the bottom to the top. Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of speculation this weekend but our focus is very much on track.

“Helmut is a consulatant to Red Bull GmbH, not the race team. Max is a valued member, no single individual is bigger than the team. Today was Max’s 100th podium finish, all of which in RBR cars. This is an incredibly strong team which has strength in depth.

“I’m aware of what’s been said, Max is an important part of this team. As team principal and CEO, I’m resonsible for the operation and running of this team.

“Speculation is obviously rife. The most important thing is the team. We all have vested interests in performances like today.”

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 19:23

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Ollie Bearman...

“Fantastic race, shocked at how fast we were pushing. That was incredible. I couldn’t relax, really exciting and fun race.

“The countdown was going slower than normal, we managed it really well. I think I did my fastest lap on the final one, I had good confidence.

“It was really difficult to follow, it requires extra precision.”

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 19:10

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Hamilton embraces Bearman after the race

Brit love!

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 19:01

Time for the podium!

A familiar feel. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard the Dutch-Austrian national anthem combination.

And it doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 18:53

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen after another victory...

Kieran Jackson9 March 2024 18:44

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in