A new generation of phenomena is appearing as protagonists on the Formula 1 stage. Kids born after 2000, when Alonso had already won his two World Championships with Renault…
Make way for terrible kids. In Mexico it was Oliver Bearman’s turn to get noticed with a fourth place at the wheel of the Haas which has the flavor of a feat. The little English “Bear” is no stranger to feats of this type. Last year he was called at the last moment by Ferrari to Saudi Arabia to replace Carlos Sainz, who had emergency surgery for appendicitis, and he left everyone stunned by immediately taking seventh place and his first points in F.1 on his debut. His wrists didn’t tremble, despite being only 19 years old and with zero experience at certain levels, proof of a talent that matured quickly. Confirmation, if any had been needed, arrived on the Mexican circuit: Bearman also traveled to the podium area, managing to repel the attacks of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in the final laps (with the help of the “virtual safety car”) and to collect 12 very important points for him and for the American team powered by Maranello. Furthermore, Ollie had also shone in qualifying, entering the Top 10. Son of a successful insurance broker and raised through victories with Prema in Italian F.4 and in other preparatory categories, he was included in the Ferrari Driver Academy when Mattia Binotto was team principal and at the time signed by Cavallino for just 400 thousand euros, a minimum sum considering his qualities. Ferrari will do well to focus on him in the future, when the red team needs to be rejuvenated, hoping that Bearman continues to progress as he is doing in this first full season in F.1. Generation Z has forcefully appeared in GPs and soon threatens to subvert the hierarchies with respect to the sacred monsters. This year saw Andrea Kimi Antonelli shine, making his debut on the Mercedes and already on the podium in Canada before completing his school leaving exam, but also the Frenchman Isack Hadjar, less expected than our champion and yet capable of achieving a surprising third place in Holland on the Racing Bulls. And what about the Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, Binotto’s new protégé at Sauber-Audi, who has already scored points five times, giving a great fox like his teammate Nico Hulkenberg a hard time? Just read their personal data sheets to understand the revolution already underway: Hadjar and Bortoleto are from 2004, Bearman is from 2005, Antonelli is from 2006. They were just born when Fernando Alonso, 44 years old, won his two World Championships with Renault.