On September 6th, it was announced that Kevin Magnussen would not be racing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this year. In his place will be Oliver Bearman, Ferrari Academy and reserve driver. Magnussen has been a Formula 1 driver since 2014, most of that being with Haas. Magnussen has driven for Haas since 2017 with a break from 2020-2022. This is the first time since 2012 that a race ban has been enacted.
Oliver Bearman, who is set to race at Haas next year, will replace him at Baku. Bearman will race beside Magnussen’s current teammate Nico Hulkenberg. This is the 2nd time Bearman will race in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. His first race was for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Unlike at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he jumped in the car at FP3, Bearman will be racing the entire weekend.
Why Kevin Magnussen faces a race ban
Over the past 16 races, Kevin Magnussen has accumulated 12 penalty points in a 12-month period. He received his first penalty points (3) for the 2024 season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on March 9th. He received his last set of penalty points (2) at the Italian Grand Prix on September 1st, 2024. Due to reaching 12 penalty points (the maximum allowed), he will not race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend.
🚨 BREAKING: Kevin Magnussen has now reached 12 penalty points, and therefore will receive a race ban.
This should occur in Baku. #F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/5o4sljdLeI
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 1, 2024
While some penalty points were accumulated by helping Haas teammate Niko Hulkenburg, the race ban does not help Kevin Magnussen as he currently does not have a seat on the F1 2025 grid. There is an open seat at Audi/Sauber but it has been rumoured that Audi is looking at current F2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto to join Magnussen’s current teammate Hulkenberg. There is a chance that the Haas drivers could reunite at Audi/Sauber but as of right now nothing is set in stone with Magnussen still waiting for a seat.
Why is Haas choosing Oliver Bearman to replace Magnussen?
Oliver Bearman boasts an impressive driving record with two Formula 4 championships in 2021. He also holds the record for being the youngest driver in Ferrari history as he raced for Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at 18 years old.
Due to his impressive driving at Jeddah, he outranks 7 drivers on the 2024 Driver Standings. Bearman is currently 15th out of 22nd. At the British Grand Prix, it was announced that Bearman would be driving for Haas next year. Joining Bearman is current Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.
🚨 | BREAKING: Ollie Bearman will race for Haas in Baku
He replaces Kevin Magnussen who is suspended for the upcoming race weekend.#F1 pic.twitter.com/rIAWtgoMvX
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 6, 2024
Bearman has experience with driving for Haas as he drove with them twice in 2023. He also has experience with doing well on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix circuit. Last year Bearman set history with topping the charts during all F2 driving sessions including both the sprint and feature races. Bearman is not only a Ferrari reserve and academy river but he is also a reserve driver for Haas.
With Bearman being their reserve driver and a member of Haas’s 2025 lineup, it only makes sense he would be replacing Magnussen at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Bearman has already placed top 10 once, do you think he can do it again? Will Bearman give Haas their best position yet?
