The awkward moment 18-year-old Oliver Bearman calls F1 rival Nico Hulkenberg ‘so slow’ seconds before he walks past during post-race interview in Saudi Arabia

Teenager Oliver Bearman may have impressed in his F1 debut, but he may still have to be careful what he says during post-race interviews. 

The 18-year-old made his F1 bow during Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and produced a fantastic race by finishing seventh. 

Bearman finished in front of fellow Brits Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, as well as Nico Hulkenberg, and was asked about his battle to overtake Hulkenberg during an interview after the race with Sky Sports. 

When asked to clarify if he was suggesting his car was too slow, Bearman confirmed he was telling his team that Hulkenberg was ‘so slow’. 

However, whilst explaining this during the interview, his timing couldn’t have been worse as the German proceeds to walk into shot and past Bearman in the background. 

As Bearman explains Nico Hulkenberg was ‘so slow’ the German walks behind him in shot 

Bearman was a late replacement for Carlos Sainz and impressed on in his first-ever race 

Hulkenberg seems to send a wink in the direction of someone during the awkward moment, while it’s not clear if Bearman noticed, despite a noticeable nervous swipe of his forehead. 

Bearman’s moment came as he was fast-tracked to the F1 track following the late withdrawal of Carlos Sainz – who underwent surgery for appendicitis. 

His appearance on the track broke Lando Norris’ record as Britain’s youngest F1 competitor, with the McLaren driver having been 19 years, four months and four days old when he debuted in 2019.

It was also the first time since the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix, that four British drivers have started an F1 race together. 

The Ferrari driver finished seventh in Jeddah, in what was his first-ever F1 Grand Prix 

Lewis Hamilton lauded ‘phenomenal’ Ollie Bearman as a ‘future star’ after his F1 debut

Bearman claimed six championship points for finishing seventh for Ferrari,  but will now return to junior racing as Sainz prepares to return for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. 

However, according to reports, it is now set to be his final season in the junior ranks with Haas wanting him to becoming a permanent fixture in their paddock next season.

With Bearman ironically possibly replacing Hulkenberg in the team, who is out of contract at the end of the current campaign. 

Lewis Hamilton lauded Bearman after his performance and labelled the teenager a future star. 

Hamilton said ‘To be pulled out of your class and put straight into a Ferrari, he did such a phenomenal job. It has showed he is a really bright future star.’