Hamilton gets his Bear thrills

LEWIS HAMILTON lauded “phenomenal” Ollie Bearman as a “future star” after the British teenager secured points on his Formula One debut for Ferrari.

- PHILIP DUNCAN

Bearman was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for appendicitis-hit Carlos Sainz.

And after qualifying 11th, he made up four places in Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to finish seventh – two positions ahead of Hamilton.

Yet Mercedes’ seven-time world champion applauded Bearman as he drove past him following the chequered flag and then waited by his Ferrari to embrace the 18-year-old.

Hamilton, 21 years older than his countryman, said: “To be pulled out of your class and put straight into a Ferrari, and then to go straight into practice, he did such a phenomenal job and it has just showed he is a really bright future star.”

Bearman had been due to compete in F1’s feeder series, Formula Two, in Jeddah.