Hamilton support left mark on Bearman after debut

Oliver Bearman said Lewis Hamilton was among the first people to congratulate him after his emergency Formula 1 debut for Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, a gesture that left a lasting impression on the Haas driver.

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Bearman recalled Hamilton messaging him in Jeddah and then seeking him out after the race. “It’s really cool because Lewis was actually one of the first in Jeddah who messaged me, who came to me after the race, and showed his character and his true nature,” Bearman said.

The moment stood out because of the circumstances around Bearman’s debut. He was drafted in at short notice to replace Carlos Sainz after the Ferrari driver was ruled out with appendicitis, then qualified 11th and finished seventh to score World Championship points on his first start.

Bearman, 20, said Hamilton’s reaction mattered not just because of his status in the sport, but because of what it revealed about him. Bearman described Hamilton’s support for younger drivers as something that “shows his character,” and framed it as part of the reason the seven-time world champion remains such a significant figure on the grid.

He also made clear that he sees Hamilton as a benchmark rather than a direct comparison. “Obviously we are in two very different phases of our careers,” Bearman said. “I’m just starting, I’m very hungry and I want to achieve as much as I possibly can. Lewis has achieved so much, and I still think he is incredibly hungry, even after obviously missing out on that title, but he is the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1.”

For Bearman, that is what makes sharing the grid with Hamilton so valuable. He said it is “really very motivating” to watch Hamilton keep performing at a high level, adding that “seeing his hunger and the fact that he comes back year after year” is special for a young driver trying to establish himself.

Bearman argued Hamilton’s current level still places him among the elite on the grid. “I think everyone can agree that he belongs to the top 5 or even top 3 drivers,” he said, underlining why a simple message in Jeddah carried so much weight for a rookie starting his F1 career.