Oliver Bearman will finally replace Kevin Magnussen for the rest of the weekend in Sao Paulo, participating in classic qualifying as well as the main race.
The Haas F1 team announced this Friday evening a major change to its line-up for the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo. Oliver Bearman, young British hopeful, will replace Danish driver Kevin Magnussen not only for the sprint qualifying, but also for the entire weekend, including the main race.
It is therefore Oliver Bearman who will drive the Haas VF-24 alongside Nico Hülkenberg. This young talent has already proven his potential from the start of the weekend, reaching SQ3 during sprint qualifying and securing an impressive tenth place for this event. This result bodes well for the Briton, who is aiming for a strong performance in the Sprint and the main race.
Kevin Magnussen absent due to health reasons
In an official statement, Haas F1 confirmed that Kevin Magnussen would not participate in the Grand Prix, specifying that the Danish driver was suffering from symptoms of nausea preventing him from taking part in the driving sessions.
Although the medical details of his condition have not been revealed, the move aims to preserve Magnussen's health while providing Bearman with a valuable chance to become more familiar with F1.
“Haas F1 Team can confirm that Kevin Magnussen will not participate in the São Paulo Grand Prix and that Oliver Bearman will race for the team until the end of the weekend” the team said in a statement.
Consequences for Bearman's future at Haas
For Bearman, this replacement represents a unique opportunity to accumulate experience in racing conditions. However, this third participation of the season could call his rookie status into question.
Indeed, to preserve this status, Haas F1 will need to obtain a special exemption from the FIA to allow it to participate in the young driver tests which will be held in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.
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