Oliver Bearman will step into the VF-24 alongside Nico Hulkenberg for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, filling in for Kevin Magnussen, who is serving a one-race suspension.
Magnussen’s suspension comes in the wake of his collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly at the Italian Grand Prix last Sunday. The incident, which occurred at the Variante della Roggia chicane, led to the Dane receiving a ten-second penalty and two penalty points on his license. With 12 penalty points accumulated, Magnussen will not participate in the next race in Baku.
In his place, the American team has tapped Ferrari junior driver Oliver Bearman to take on the challenge at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Bearman, who has previously driven for Scuderia Ferrari and participated in four FP1 sessions with the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team this season, brings a wealth of experience to the role.
“It’s definitely more of a challenge stepping in as a reserve driver with limited preparation time,” Bearman said. “However, I’m fortunate to have had prior experience earlier this year with Scuderia Ferrari, which will be beneficial. Additionally, my experience with Haas in the VF-24 during FP1 sessions will prove valuable as I tackle the full race weekend in Baku. The team is currently in good form, and I’ll do my best to be prepared with the time we have available. My goal is to deliver a strong performance in Azerbaijan.”
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed enthusiasm about Bearman’s appointment: “I’m excited for Ollie to join Nico in driving the VF-24 in Baku. He has already demonstrated significant promise during his FP1 outings and post-season tests. His impressive performance with Scuderia Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, where he scored points, underscores his potential.
“This race weekend represents a valuable opportunity for both Ollie and the team to collaborate more extensively, and he couldn’t ask for a better teammate than Nico to provide guidance and support.”
With Bearman stepping into the role, all eyes will be on the young driver as he makes his debut in a full race weekend for Haas in Baku.
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