Oliver Bearman scores points at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

F1 driver - Oliver Bearman <i>(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)</i>
F1 driver - Oliver Bearman (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
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Oliver Bearman scored points for the first time in ten races by finishing ninth in a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old followed departing team-mate Esteban Ocon, in the top ten, after losing ground early in the race.

The Essex driver gave himself a strong opportunity to score points after qualifying just outside of the top ten. However, a penalty for Carlos Sainz's Williams promoted the Haas driver to tenth for the race start.

A poor start saw him drop behind Alex Albon and Liam Lawson, whom he had outqualified, but he passed both again by lap nine.

Two safety cars were deployed, during the race. The first after Albon crashed and the second after a multi-car pile-up at the 90-degree left-handed first turn, triggered when Franco Colapinto’s Alpine braked too late.

He collected team-mate Pierre Gasly and reigning world champion Lando Norris.

Bearman also made light contact with championship leader Kimi Antonelli, limiting him to ninth place.

But, it was Bearman’s first top-ten finish in a Formula One race since the Canadian Grand Prix in May — and he was delighted.

He told haasf1team.com: "To do this with both cars makes me really happy, and everyone in this team should be so proud. To be in the points with Esteban is a very rewarding feeling, especially after the challenges we’ve had over the last few events.

"I’m incredibly happy, although I’m disappointed at how I lost out in the first restart, it was absolute mayhem. I ended up losing a position, but honestly, it doesn’t matter as we’re both in the points.

"It was challenging towards the end as we were the only cars on mediums, and there were a lot of cars around us on softs, but we made it happen."

Bearman will hope to follow that up in the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

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