2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman will race in the second Formula 1 Grand Prix of the season, replacing the suspended Kevin Magnussen.
Oliver Bearman will get another chance to prove himself in a Formula 1 race after being called up by Haas to replace Kevin Magnussen for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Magnussen has been handed a one-race suspension after accumulating 12 penalty points on his super license over a 12-month period.
This penalty came after Magnussen collided with Pierre Gasly at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, earning a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points, which pushed him over the allowed limit.
As a result, Magnussen will not be able to participate in the Baku race, giving Bearman the opportunity to step into the Haas seat in place of the Danish driver.
The 19-year-old Bearman, who is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, has been selected by Haas to race full-time for the team next season. Bearman participated in a Pirelli tire test at Silverstone with the VF-24 and took part in four first practice sessions this season for Haas in Imola, Barcelona, Silverstone, and the Hungaroring.
Earlier this year, Bearman caught attention at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he filled in for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who underwent appendicitis surgery. Bearman qualified 11th in Jeddah and earned praise with an impressive seventh-place finish.
At the start of the season, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu revealed how impressed he was with Bearman’s professionalism, which convinced him to sign the young driver for 2025.
Komatsu told Motorsport.com: “He has the speed, which is the most important thing in the paddock. But what’s also impressive is his understanding of the bigger picture. He’s young, and when we tell him the team’s goal for the weekend during the first practice session, he understands what he needs to do to achieve that goal.”
“We say, ‘This is your role, this is your program, and this is what you need to achieve for both the team and yourself.’ And he grasps that very well.”
“He understands how he can contribute to the bigger picture, which isn’t true for all young drivers.”
“Sometimes you tell them all of this, and they just go out and try to set the fastest lap every time. But in F1, you need to be a team player, especially with limited testing programs and opportunities.”
“His interactions with the team before the event are very good, and his debriefs afterward, sharing what he’s learned, are also quite strong, giving us the necessary feedback.”
“He’s very calm and also very positive. So, he brings a good atmosphere to the team and makes it easy for everyone to welcome him.”
“Some drivers are driven but can be negative, and when it works, it’s fine because the results come, but when they don’t, it can be draining.”
“I’ve had some drivers who were highly talented, worked hard, and were very good but guided the team in the wrong way, in a negative direction. Ollie is very positive, so he’s an encouraging and uplifting factor.”
Oliver Bearman’s getting a big break as he replaces Kevin Magnussen for the Baku Grand Prix. Magnussen’s suspension after too many penalty points gives Bearman a chance to shine.