Despite receiving a call just hours before jumping in the car on Saturday, the Briton put in an eye-catching performance as he made his third stand-in appearance of the season, having previously raced for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia when Carlos Sainz was taken ill before getting behind the wheel for Haas in Azerbaijan after Magnussen was hit with a one-race ban.
Bearman progressed to SQ3 of Saturday’s Sprint Qualifying in Sao Paulo – outperforming team mate Nico Hulkenberg who qualified in P12 – and despite a mistake leaving him without a timed lap on the board, the youngster was delighted to take P10 on the grid for the Sprint.
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It comes as Bearman prepares to make his full-time debut in Formula 1 next year with Haas, where he will be partnered by Esteban Ocon. In the meantime, alongside his latest substitute performance, the teenager will also complete the remainder of his F2 campaign with PREMA Racing.
