Bearman expects more from first full F1 weekend

In the round-up: Oliver Bearman expects to build on his first experience of competing in Formula 1 when he returns this weekend.

In brief

Bearman eager to tackle full weekend

Bearman took over Carlos Sainz Jnr’s Ferrari at short notice during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, missing the first two practice sessions. He expects more this weekend as he steps into Kevin Magnussen’s car following the Haas driver’s ban from the event.

“I’m excited about getting back inside a Formula 1 car and competing in my first full weekend,” said Bearman. “I’ve done FP1s with the team, but to be able to build on that and actually do a full weekend is a really exciting prospect.”

Bearman achieved the rare feat of winning both Formula 2 races at the Baku City Circuit during last year’s event. “Last year I had a lot of success in Baku and it’s really one of my favourite tracks to compete at, so I’m really excited to get going,” he said.

“I’ve had time in the simulator, it’s definitely a challenging track… not being a permanent circuit, the walls are very close and it’s tight in some places, especially the famous castle section. That’s another point to focus on, make sure to build up to speed, in an as measured way as possible. I’m happy I have a lot of laps in the car because this will be my first full weekend which I haven’t had the pleasure of having before.”

One Williams junior replaces another

The day after Zak O’Sullivan confirmed he will not complete the F2 season with ART, Williams confirmed another of their junior drivers will take his place. Luke Browning will drive his car from this weekend.

Legge returns for finale

Coyne’s number 51 IndyCar will be driven for the final time this year by Katherine Legge. She scored her best result of the season in the last race at Milwaukee with 15th.

Larson attempting the double again

McLaren and NASCAR team Hendrick confirmed yesterday Kyle Larson will repeat his attempt to contest both the Indianapolis 500 and the 600-mile NASCAR race at Charlotte on the same day next year. He will be McLaren’s fourth driver in the Indy 500 alongside Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard.

Where’s Diplo? In an IndyCar

IndyCar has announced Thomas Pentz, better known by his stage name Diplo, will ride in their two-seater car ahead of this weekend’s championship-deciding Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. Will IndyCar prove more to his taste than F1? He attended the inaugural Miami Grand Prix two years ago, after which he said “I don’t care about Formula 1 at all, but I do care about parties” and described the Red Bull-sponsored VIP suite as “this bad box, like a jail.”

More seriously, Pentz is the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, including sexual battery and distribution of ‘revenge porn’

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