British teenager Oliver Bearman is making a surprise return to Formula 1, replacing the suspended Kevin Magnussen for next week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Haas team announced the news on Friday, marking a significant development for the 19-year-old driver.
Originally signed to race for Haas in 2025, Bearman’s debut with the team will come sooner than anticipated due to Magnussen’s one-race suspension for accumulating too many penalty points. Bearman, who is currently competing in Formula 2, showcased his talent earlier this year when he finished seventh in his F1 debut for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in for the sidelined Carlos Sainz Jr.
This opportunity marks Bearman’s second F1 race and a chance to build upon his impressive performance in March. “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 stated in a Haas press release.
As a Ferrari academy driver, Bearman serves as one of two reserve drivers for Haas this year, alongside Pietro Fittipaldi, who is currently competing in IndyCar. With both drivers having racing commitments elsewhere next week, Bearman will be the only available reserve for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This unexpected opportunity presents a chance for Bearman to prove his potential and gain valuable experience in the premier motorsport series before his officially scheduled debut in 2025.
