F2 colleagues support Bearman: 'All a bit jealous'

If Carlos Sainz had not contracted acute appendicitis, Oliver Bearman could have been on the podium among the top three in the F2 sprint race. In fact, the 18-year-old driver should have competed in this preliminary Formula 1 event, but he was called up by Ferrari on Friday. The three drivers who finished on the podium without Bearman in the race told GPblog and others that they are proud of the Brit and are supporting him.

Richard Verschoor, the sprint race winner, was the first to say he was happy for his colleague: "Of course, I'm thoroughly rooting for him. As Paul said earlier, I think it's very good that he got a chance. I feel like sometimes the rookies who were doing well, like Drugovich and Piastri, had to wait a year...there should be more opportunities for those young drivers. So I'm really supportive."

'Bearman represents F2 grid in F1'

Dennis Hauger, part of the Red Bull Junior Team in the past, could concur: "It's going to be cool to see. It's important to let the young guns have a go. There are quite a few drivers in the F2 grid who could have done a good job up there. Now, someone has a chance to show it. So it will be interesting to see," said the Norwegian.

Paul Aron, who finished third in the F2 sprint race, said, "I get along with Oli well, so I'm obviously wishing him the best. In some regard, he is representing the F2 grid on the F1 grid now. So I think all of us wish him the best of luck. But I think all of us are also a bit jealous that he got the chance. But I guess if you do a good job, everyone's time should come. And now it's Oli's time, so I think we should all support him."