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
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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
Driver Standings after one race
1. Max Verstappen - 26 points
2. Sergio Perez - 18 points
3. Carlos Sainz - 15 points
4. Charles Leclerc - 12 points
5. George Russell - 10 points
6. Lando Norris - 8 points
7. Lewis Hamilton - 6 points
8. Oscar Piastri - 4 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 2 points
10. Lance Stroll - 1 point
11. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
12. Kevin Magnussen - 0 points
13. Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda - 0 points
15. Alex Albon - 0 points
16. Nico Hulkenberg - 0 points
17. Esteban Ocon - 0 points
18. Pierre Gasly - 0 points
19. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points
20. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
Ollie Bearman getting ready for qualifying!
Who is Ollie Bearman? Essex boy with Italian twang driving for Ferrari at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
History-making Ollie Bearman will drive for Ferrari at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after replacing Carlos Sainz for the Scuderia.
Sainz, who finished third at last weekend’s season-opening race in Bahrain, has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery.
The 18-year-old Bearman made his Formula One debut last season, becoming the youngest British driver to step foot in an F1 machine at a Grand Prix weekend. And he quietly impressed, too.
Bearman was barely three months old when Fernando Alonso won his first world championship in 2005 – but on his Formula One debut in Mexico City, the Essex 18-year-old finished ahead of the double world champion.
Who is Ollie Bearman? Essex boy with Italian twang driving for Ferrari
Bearman will step in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, having made F1 history last season
COMMENT: On International Women’s Day, Red Bull’s suspension of Christian Horner’s accuser is truly shocking
Another day in Formula 1’s never-ending soap opera – and another day further away from a conclusion to a story which threatens to rip Red Bull, and the sport, apart.
To recap the latest developments, early on Thursday it emerged that the female colleague, who raised allegations of “inappropriate, coercive behaviour” against Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner which were cleared by an internal probe, had been suspended on full pay by Red Bull Racing.
While we don’t yet know the grounds for her suspension and whether it could be lifted, the optics of this situation, now, are beyond unpalatable. It is shocking that Formula 1 – a sport that has prided itself on making such strides on inclusivity and diversity in recent years – has allowed the matter to stretch to this point. The message it sends, on the eve of the all-female racing series F1 Academy starting its second season on International Women’s Day, is truly terrible.
Full piece below:
Red Bull’s suspension of Christian Horner’s accuser is truly shocking on IWD
Comment: The whole soap opera involving Red Bull boss Horner has now become perilous for F1
‘We’re here to stay’: F1 presenter Laura Winter sends defiant message to women in light of Horner scandal
F1 TV presenter Laura Winter produced a moving piece to camera in Saudi Arabia on International Women’s Day – admitting it has not been easy being a woman working in the sport in light of recent events.
The female Red Bull employee who accused team principal Christian Horner of “inappropriate behaviour” was suspended yesterday, on the eve of International Women’s Day on Friday.
The complainant still has the right to appeal the outcome of Red Bull’s internal investigation, which cleared Horner of any wrongdoing.
But after what has been a difficult month, with the role of women in Formula 1 brought back into the limelight, Winter sent a defiant message to those working in the sport and female fans, insisting: “We are here to stay and we are right where we belong.”
‘We’re here to stay’: F1 presenter sends message to women in light of Horner scandal
The female Red Bull employee who accused Christian Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ was suspended, one day before International Women’s Day
Toto Wolff on prospects tomorrow:
“I don’t think we’re in the fight for the race, Max is in a league of his own.
“Behind them, pecking order is Max, Ferrari, then us close to McLaren and Aston.”
Christian Horner demands end to ‘family intrusion’ after Red Bull female accuser suspended
Christian Horner demanded an end to the saga engulfing Red Bull and the world of Formula 1, imploring at the end of a feisty press conference: “The intrusion on my family is enough.”
The Red Bull team principal was speaking at a press conference, a matter of hours after the female colleague who raised a complaint of “inappropriate behaviour” was suspended by Red Bull Racing.
It emerged on Thursday that the accuser has been suspended, on full pay, with the decision said to be taken as a result of the findings of the internal probe. A Red Bull spokesperson stated: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter”.
Horner, at an FIA team principals’ press conference in Saudi Arabia, urged the media to “draw a line” under the current controversy and insisted the intrusion on his wife Geri Halliwell and his family must stop.
Full piece below:
Horner demands end to ‘family intrusion’ after Red Bull female accuser suspended
The Red Bull F1 boss, married to Spice Girl pop star Geri Halliwell, reacted after female colleague who raised complaint of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ was suspended on Thursday
Could Max Verstappen really join Mercedes in 2025? Here’s what we know
In the never-ending topsy-turvy circus of Formula One, it’s wise to expect the unexpected.
Yet these latest shenanigans regarding Christian Horner, Max Verstappen and Red Bull – and the potential fallout and consequences of internal politics within the team – would be monumentally seismic for the sport.
The controversy surrounding Horner doesn’t seem to have concluded just yet. The latest is that Horner met with Verstappen’s manager in Dubai on Monday, to de-escalate tensions within the team after Verstappen’s father Jos implied that Horner’s position as team principal was untenable.
But where are we heading in this matter? What could the potential fallout be? And could Red Bull be in danger of losing their star driver to their biggest rivals?
The Independent gives the low-down on all matters Verstappen, Red Bull and Horner:
Could Max Verstappen really join Mercedes in 2025? Here’s what we know
Red Bull’s three-time world champion has a break clause in his contract which could give Toto Wolff hope of landing the Dutchman
Max Verstappen quickest in FP3
Max Verstappen doesn’t improve on his earlier time but is still top at the end of third practice - his time of 1:28:412 is 0.194 secs quicker than Charles Leclerc.
3-10: Perez, Russell, Norris, Alonso, Stroll, Piastri, Hamilton, Bearman
A solid session from Oliver Bearman - worth noting that his quickest time would’ve been deleted in qualifying as he went off the track at turn 22. He was pushing though!
“Good job there, it was a good lap,” says Bearman’s engineer.
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