Bearman was called upon just a few hours before FP3 on Friday after it became clear that regular driver Carlos Sainz had appendicitis.
Having qualified 11th, the young Brit had a problem-free maiden grand prix, and he didn’t put a foot wrong despite Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton threatening him on soft tyres in the closing laps. He eventually finished seventh, just behind George Russell.
Vasseur said that while being on the pace so quickly was an achievement, the fact that Bearman avoided mistakes at a tricky venue such as the Jeddah street circuit was particularly impressive.
“I think in this situation – and we've had a couple of times good young drivers into the car, not only at Ferrari, but on the grid – I would say the pace is, I don't want to say easy to have, but it's something they can achieve,” he said.
“The fact he did a short weekend without FP1, FP2 without any mistake, for me it's unrealistic.
“Honestly, I was completely impressed by this in Jeddah, between the walls, skipping FP1, FP2, directly almost in quali."
Source: Autosport