British teenager Oliver Bearman has been confirmed as Haas’ driver for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stepping in for Kevin Magnussen, who is currently serving a one-race ban. The ban was enforced after Magnussen accrued his 12th penalty point at the recent Italian Grand Prix, attributed to a collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
At just 19 years old, Bearman is already signed with Haas for the next season. His previous experience as one of the team’s reserve drivers this season makes him the natural choice to fill this role. This weekend’s race in Baku will be Bearman’s second in Formula 1, following a strong performance where he finished seventh while substituting for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Following the announcement, Bearman stated, “It’s definitely more of a challenge stepping in to race as a reserve driver, with limited prep time and so on, but I’m in a fortunate position having done it earlier in the year with Ferrari. I’ve also had four FP1 sessions with Haas already this season, which will be invaluable going into the full race weekend in Baku. The team is in good form, and I aim to have a solid weekend in Azerbaijan.”
In preparation for his rookie season in Formula 1, Bearman has participated in four practice sessions with Haas this year, in addition to two from the previous season. His impressive track record includes securing his second race victory of the season at Monza in Formula 2.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed confidence in Bearman’s capabilities, stating, “I’m excited that Ollie will be driving the VF-24 alongside Nico in Baku. He’s demonstrated great potential in his FP1 outings and has performed commendably when he drove for Ferrari. This is an excellent opportunity for both Ollie and the team to collaborate throughout an entire race weekend.”
Magnussen’s Penalty Explained
Magnussen has become the first Formula 1 driver to be banned under the 12 penalty-point rule since its introduction in 2014. The stewards concluded that he was “wholly to blame” for causing the collision with Gasly and did not act in a “safe and controlled manner” during the incident.
Despite receiving a 10-second time penalty during the race, the two penalty points pushed him over the limit, resulting in the ban. Magnussen’s rapid accumulation of penalty points began early in the 2024 season, starting with collisions in Saudi Arabia and China, followed by multiple incidents at the Miami Grand Prix.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will take place from September 13-15, promising an exciting weekend for both new drivers and loyal F1 fans alike.
