Disenchanted tomorrow for Oliver Bearman in Melbourne

And if shine in Formula 2 was even more complicated than making a sensational debut in Formula 1 ? This is the question that we can legitimately ask in light of the difficult Friday experienced by Ollie Bearman in Melbourne (Australia).

Two short weeks after having enchanted the F1 paddock by attracting the praise of the greatest drivers in the history of the discipline, the 18-year-old young man had the greatest difficulty existing on the lower stage.

Is this due to a general deconcentration linked to the backlash from the majuscule performance that he was able to achieve in Saudi Arabia? Or is it just a lack of success? There's probably a bit of both. Still, these disenchanted tomorrows began during free practice. Only author of the 11th fastest time, the Briton finished 6/10th behind his rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Difficult return to earth.

A complicated qualification for Ollie Bearman

In addition to having shone the spotlight on himself despite himself since Jeddah, Ollie Bearman will also have to deal with the advent of his Italian teammate, announced as a future crack and who has also made a superb debut despite his arrival in coming from FRECA, which he obviously won. An unprecedented position for the Englishman, who until then had always been used to being the surprising rookie. He is one of the big favorites for the F2 title and must take it.

The Free Practices are, however, only an appetizer, and the Englishman knew that he would be judged on the main course of qualifying. Author of pole two weeks ago in Saudi Arabia, the native of Chelmsford has not had the same success Down Under. On the last set of tires, the one that counts the most, he was quite unlucky. When he had just negotiated the last corner and was improving on his previous mark of five, the red flag came out due to Jak Crawford's accident.

A huge blow. But the Briton had a little more than 4 minutes remaining, and therefore a last attempt to try to integrate at least the top 10 synonymous with a reverse grid for the sprint. Once again, he improved his first sector, not his second, and was then the victim of a technical problem in the third, which prevented him from finishing his lap, when his Italian teammate tore off a first line. A disappointing qualification, which marks a return to the shade with a 16th starting place for the two races of the weekend.

When you score points on your F1 debut 🥳

A very proud moment for Ollie's dad 😊#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/00hYJNAPJX

- Formula 1 (@ F1) March 12, 2024

“The qualifying session was very difficult, he agreed. I struggled to get a good feeling from the tire in the first run, but I felt like we had that resolved for the second run. Unfortunately we were unlucky with a red flag on the first lap and a technical problem on the second, meaning I couldn't finish the lap. It's a shame, because honestly, it looked good, we weren't perhaps fighting for pole, but at least for the first three. I'm a little disappointed, but we will do our best on Saturday and Sunday. In the event of a big comeback in the race, qualifying will quickly be forgotten!

Author of no points in Bahrain where Prema Racing was not at its best, the Briton obviously did not score any in Jeddah after abandoning his commitment to move to F1. With 0 points after two rounds and a difficult qualification on an Australian track where the starting position often proves decisive, he is not in the best conditions with a view to obtaining the title. Fred Vasseur, boss of the Team, once again applauded his young driver from Melbourne, but wanted to remind him of his objectives for the year.

“He was perfect. The whole team was very happy with what he did on the track and his behavior off the track. If this is the most impressive thing I've seen? We must avoid drawing hasty conclusions. He must concentrate on F2. All the media will draw conclusions if he doesn't win F2. We have to take it step by step. He will have other opportunities to drive in EL1, to do tests. But F2 remains the goal of the year.” Bearman has been warned!

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