‘Sorry’ – Brit F1 star Oliver Bearman’s gutted reaction as 18-year-old is knocked out of Saudi Arabian GP qualifying

OLIVER BEARMAN narrowly missed out on making Q3 on his Formula One debut in Saudi Arabia.

The teen will start P11 in Saturday’s race after an impressive qualifier.

Oliver Bearman will start P11 in Saturday’s race

AFP

The teen apologised after missing out by a fraction of a second[/caption]

Bearman was a late call up to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz withdrew due to injury.

But he impressed in qualifying and almost made Q3, which would have given him a chance to place higher on the grid.

Bearman lost out to compatriot Sir Lewis Hamilton but his team bosses offered encouragement as he finished.

One said: “That was a good lap, good last sector.”

The 18-year-old replied: “Sorry.”

Bearman missed out on Q2 by just 0.036 seconds, with the teen describing it as a “messy session”.

His team responded saying: “It was a tough one. Super difficult.”

Bearman’s team-mate Charles Leclerc also impressed and qualified for Saturday’s race in second place on the grid, with Max Verstappen taking pole.

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But for Bearman it is all a learning experience with the Essex youngster set to become Britain’s youngest ever Formula 1 driver.

He will also be the first Brit to represent Ferrari since Eddie Irvine in 1999.