The three-time world champion, defending his title, set a remarkable pace of one minute 28.412 seconds, outpacing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by two-tenths.
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the team, particularly after Christian Horner was recently cleared of misconduct allegations, the champion demonstrated his prowess on the track.
At just 18 years old, Bearman was called in by Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined due to appendicitis. Despite the circumstances, Bearman maintained composure and delivered a solid performance, finishing 10th.
Sergio Perez secured third place for Red Bull, followed by George Russell in fourth for Mercedes, with Lando Norris of McLaren, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, and Lance Stroll, his teammate, following suit.
In an unexpected turn of events, Bearman made his competitive Formula One debut for Ferrari due to Sainz’s illness. The session kicked off with hot conditions, but Bearman managed to make an impressive debut, clocking a respectable time.
Valtteri Bottas led the initial stages of the session, closely followed by Bearman. Despite being a newcomer, Bearman heeded the advice of his Ferrari engineer, Riccardo Adami, and steadily improved his performance.
Verstappen eventually took the lead, followed closely by Leclerc and Perez. However, a red flag was raised due to an incident involving Zhou Guanyu, temporarily halting the session.
Following repairs, the session resumed, with Verstappen maintaining his lead. For Bearman, it was a successful debut, providing him with a solid foundation for the upcoming qualifying session.
Sainz’s health issues had been apparent since Wednesday, although he participated in Thursday’s practice sessions despite feeling unwell. Meanwhile, Bearman, Ferrari’s reserve driver, had initially qualified on pole for the Formula Two race on Saturday but was withdrawn from the event to focus on his new role.
Bearman’s debut marked a significant moment, as he became the first Briton to competitively debut for Ferrari since Derek Bell in 1968. Ferrari’s decision to entrust a newcomer reflects their rare willingness to give rookies a chance, with the last instance dating back to 1972 with Arturo Merzario.
