Ex-F1 team owner highlights Carlos Sainz’s Oliver Bearman problem in securing F1 career for 2025

Oliver Bearman impressed the paddock on his F1 debut in Saudi Arabia as a replacement for Carlos Sainz who had to undergo surgery.

Ex-F1 team owner highlights Carlos Sainz’s Oliver Bearman problem in securing F1 career for 2025

Carlos Sainz [L] Oliver Bearman [R] (images via IMAGO)

Carlos Sainz will be leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2024 F1 season. The Scuderia decided to replace the Spaniard next season with Lewis Hamilton. The 29-year-old will need to find a seat to save his career beyond this season. Now, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has warned Sainz about a major factor which could affect his prospects.

The 29-year-old was replaced by 18-year-old Oliver Bearman at the Saudi Arabian GP due to being diagnosed with appendicitis. Bearman pulled off an impressive drive with Ferrari claiming that the Briton made no mistakes the entire weekend.

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Eddie Jordan highlighted that Ollie Bearman was certainly a star in the making. However, the 18-year-old’s performance has further signaled at several young drivers who could make it to F1. The Irishman reckoned that Carlos Sainz must be hoping to recover and make it to the Australian GP.

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Bearman is an absolute mega-star in the making but in reality there are six or eight of young drivers, who in my opinion do not have the opportunity to show off their talent as happened to Bearman.
Eddie Jordan said on the Formula for Success podcast (H&T: FormulaPassion.it)

Moreover, the 29-year-old would be aiming to secure a seat for the 2025 season as soon as possible. Jordan pointed out that many young drivers could make it to the grid. Liam Lawson might be one of the candidates looking for a seat for next season. 

I'm sure Carlos is sitting in his bed, hoping he'll recover quickly, and he's saying it: “ Oh, my God, I'd better get the seat for 2025 quickly ”, because there are many very good young people who can replace it.

Eddie Jordan claims new F1 cars easier to drive for rookies

Oliver Bearman was called up to replace Carlos Sainz just a few hours before FP3 and Qualifying. The 18-year-old did a stellar performance on his first outing in the SF24 and secured P11 on the starting grid. Moreover, Bearman managed to even outpace the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris throughout the race and crossed the chequered flag in P7.

Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman (Via IMAGO)

Eddie Jordan claimed that the new ground-effect F1 cars seem to be easier to drive for rookies. The Irishman pointed out that Bearman’s impressive outing without any tests in the car further solidified his argument. Although, Jordan mentioned that it was remarkable to see the 18-year-old fend off Hamilton and Norris on his F1 debut.

It also seems to me that these cars are too easy to drive compared to what they used to be. and this is indicative of the fact that to a pilot like him, with a minimum of tests, at the last moment... It was remarkable. I mean, ending up in front of Lewis and Lando was spectacular for me. 

Carlos Sainz is expected to return to the cockpit at the Australian GP. The Spanish driver has been rumored to be in talks with teams for his future. However, there has been no official confirmation from the 29-year-old’s entourage. As such, it remains to be seen whether a rookie like Oliver Bearman could make it difficult for Sainz to get a seat for 2025.

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