When the 2024 season first started, there were no rookies on the grid. However, for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, there are 2 rookies racing – Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Franco Colapinto (Williams). Both of these drivers have impressed their teams and fans as they outqualifed their more experienced teammates.
Oliver Bearman is driving for the Haas F1 team this weekend as their full-time driver, Kevin Magnussen earned a race ban after accumulating 12 penalty points over a 12-month period. Franco Colapinto on the other hand has been driving for Williams since the Italian GP and will continue to drive for the team until the last race of the year. He replaced an underperforming Logan Sargeant.
Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto outqualifes their teammates
Both these drivers were able to deliver an impressive performance during the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Oliver Bearman qualified 11th for the grid while his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg will start at 13th after Gasly’s disqualification. In just his second race weekend, Franco Colapinto managed to get into Q3 and qualify 9th for the race. His teammate will be starting right behind him in 10th.
After the session, Colapinto was thrilled with his performance. He is the first F1 driver from Argentina to qualify in the top 10 since 1982.
“It was a good turnaround, I think, from FP1, with the little mistake I made,” said Colapinto. “I think I made [up] for it. The team is really happy, I think I performed every lap.
“[…] I’m feeling every time better and more comfortable with the car, more comfortable with the team. So I think it’s a good direction to go and we’re doing well, we’re doing the steps needed, and I think there’s potential tomorrow for points.”
Franco Colapinto has qualified in P9 in his second ever Formula 1 race!
Impressive job from the 21-year old Argentine in the Williams. #F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/389NWcHu0T
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 14, 2024
While Colapinto was extremely happy with his performance, the same could not be said for Oliver Bearman. Despite outqualifying his teammate, Bearman felt that he had the potential to get into Q3.
After learning that he missed out on Q3 by 0.128 seconds, he vented out on the radio to the team: “I had a lock-up. Damn it! I’m such an idiot.”
Explaining what happened, he said: “It was coming up the castle. I was a bit deep in Turn 11. I had a snap into 12 and I lost enough time to stop me from the final round of qualifying.”
But despite qualifying P11, he still has a strong chance to get some points during the race. If he does so, he will be the only driver to score points with 2 different teams in a single season.
Will both the rookies be on the F1 grid next year?
A few weeks earlier, Oliver Bearman secured his spot on the 2025 F1 grid with Haas. But Colapinto on the other hand is yet to confirm a permanent seat in F1 for the future. Although he is driving well for Williams, the team has already signed Carlos Sainz to drive alongside Alex Albon for 2025.
But this is definitely not the end for Colapinto’s F1 dream. If he is able to continue this impressive performance for Williams for the rest of the season, there is no doubt that one of the teams will sign him in the near future.
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For the 2025 season, there are only 2 open seats available – One with VCARB and the other with Kick Sauber. VCARB is more likely to resign Daniel Ricciardo or bring in Liam Lawson from their Academy lineup.
Although Sauber could sign Colapinto if they need to, sources have indicated that Gabriel Bortoleto is a favourite to sign with the team for the 2025 season. But if not 2025, Colapinto should be able to come back to the F1 grid in 2026 or 2027.
But as of now, the rookies will be preparing for a strong performance for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Do you think both Bearman and Colapinto will be able to score points in the race? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
