dutchm2 wrote

Olli Berman received the Pirelli Highlight of the Year award.

The event turned out to be a complex one: Pirelli awarded Berman for the weekend in Jeddah, which he famously spent in two championships at once – Formula 2 and Formula 1.
In Formula 2, he won pole position on Friday, but then moved to the senior championship as a reserve for Sainz when the Spaniard was hospitalized with appendicitis.

First time behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF24, Olli drove the race well and finished seventh, scoring six points, which at that time allowed him to immediately “jump” to 10th place in the driver’s standings. Over time, of course, he dropped lower and at the end of the season took 18th place with seven points.

He earned another one by finishing tenth for Haas in Azerbaijan, replacing the disqualified Magnussen.

M5Rick wrote

Bearman's out of the box performance makes him a future Championship contender.

dutchm2 wrote

Yeah kind of.... imo the most promising future Formula 1 champions include a mix of current F1 drivers and rising stars in the junior series:

Current F1 Drivers

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - The 2021 F2 champion impressed in his rookie F1 season with standout performances like his podium in Japan and a sprint race win in Qatar. His consistency and adaptability mark him as a future title contender​

Lando Norris (McLaren) - With multiple podiums in recent seasons, Norris has demonstrated the skill and resilience needed to secure victories and potentially a championship when McLaren provides a competitive car​

George Russell (Mercedes) - Having already won a race in Brazil and shown strong performances against Lewis Hamilton, Russell is well-positioned to challenge for titles as Mercedes refines their car​

Rising Stars in Junior Categories

Oliver Bearman (F2) - A Ferrari junior, Bearman impressed in his rookie F2 season with multiple wins. He is tipped as Ferrari's next F1 driver, potentially by 2025​

Theo Pourchaire (F2) - Backed by Alfa Romeo/Sauber, Pourchaire's consistent success in F2, including being the youngest race winner, signals his potential as a future F1 star​

Gabriel Bortoleto (F3) - The 2023 F3 champion, Bortoleto's consistency and adaptability earned him a place in McLaren's junior program. He is expected to perform well in F2​

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (F3) - A standout talent from Mercedes' junior academy, Antonelli has dominated lower-tier series and is seen as Italy’s most promising prospect for F1 in years

These drivers represent the future of F1, with their performances in junior categories or early F1 careers setting them apart as potential champions.

M5Rick wrote

Judging by this could Hamilton have just a few races at the Scuderia if age and F1 participation longevity take their toll on him seing his downturn for no particular reason at Mercedes recently..

dutchm2 wrote

Who knows it... In God's secret kb 😎