Bearman confirmed as replacement for Baku

Getting a glimpse into his Formula 1 future, Ollie Bearman will compete with Haas at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as he replaces Kevin Magnussen who received a one-race ban after Monza.

With Bearman set for a full-time at Haas drive alongside Esteban Ocon in 2025, the team has made the best out of a bad situation to help the Brit familiarise himself ahead of next season.

At the hands of Kevin Magnussen’s Turn 4 collision with Pierre Gasly in which the Dane was deemed “wholly to blame”, Magnussen reached the limit of 12 penalty points on his Super License across 12 months, earning himself one week off with just eight races to go in the season.

Bearman made a stunning Formula 1 debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after receiving a last-minute call-up for an ill Carlos Sainz, scoring points on debut after fighting with Lewis Hamilton and the McLarens.

Following his admirable Jeddah display, the current Prema Racing driver has now taken part in four FP1 sessions in the build-up to a full-time seat next season, the most recent being a run in Hungary.

This coming weekend, Bearman will partake in his second-ever F1 Grand Prix, skipping out on the Formula 2 festivities in Baku.

“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 the fortunate position of having done it earlier in the year with Scuderia Ferrari, so I can at least call on that experience,” Bearman said. 

“I’ve also had four FP1 sessions with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in the VF-24 already this season, so undoubtedly that will also prove to be valuable in tackling the full race weekend in Baku. 

The team is in good form at the moment and I’ll do my best to be prepared with the time we have available. 

“The aim is to get out there and have a solid weekend in Azerbaijan.”

At the Italian Grand Prix, the Ferrari and Haas Reserve Driver claimed his second F2 victory during Saturday’s Sprint Race, but despite that, he still sits 115 points off the lead in P14 with three rounds to go.

In the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, Bearman is currently in P15 and equal on points with Kevin Magnussen before he steps into the VF-24 alongside Nico Hulkenberg in Baku.

“I’m excited that Ollie will be driving the VF-24 alongside Nico in Baku,” Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu said.

“He’s already shown great promise in his FP1 outings and post-season test, and he performed very well when he drove for Scuderia Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, picking up points in the process. 

“This is another excellent opportunity for both Ollie and the team to work together, this time throughout an entire race weekend, and he couldn’t ask for a better teammate than Nico to provide him with a reference.”

Forced onto the sidelines for Round 17, Magnussen will return for the following race in Singapore, rocking up to the Marina Bay Street Circuit with his Super Licence points cleared as he potentially rounds out the final seven races of his F1 career. 

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will run across September 13-15 around the Baku City Circuit.

Image: Simon Galloway / LAT Images

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