Explained: Why It Seems Inevitable We Will See Bearman In F1 Again In 2024

F1
Friday, 10 May 2024 at 22:00
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Oliver Bearman could get yet another chance to compete in the F1 Grand Prix in 2024, but this time, for a team other than Ferrari.
So far, Ollie Bearman has only competed in one Grand Prix race in 2024- the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Despite that, he stands 12th in the Drivers' Championship with more points than Alpine, Williams, and Sauber combined after the sixth round of the season in Miami.
Ferrari decided to take a bit of a gamble on the 18-year-old, putting him into their car with almost zero preparation, but he delivered and vindicated their decision.
Bearman belongs to the Ferrari Academy, and even before his first Grand Prix appearance, it was rumored that he would be one of the main candidates for a seat in Haas (Ferrari's customer team) in 2025.
After his incredible debut performance, it almost seems inevitable that the youngster will get a seat. According to multiple reports, the Briton is on top of the list to replace the departing Nico Hulkenberg.
Bearman will have multiple practice sessions dedicated to him this season as Ferrari does what it can to prepare him for a seat in F1, but he might also have a chance to participate in the Grand Prix in the meantime.
How would that be possible? Kevin Magnussen is very close to a one-race ban from the FIA after all the penalties he has accumulated ever since the start of this year.
The Danish driver currently has ten penalty points, and if he reaches 12, the regulations say he must sit out one race weekend.
These penalty points get deleted after some time, but in Magnussen's case, it is at the start of the 2025 season at the earliest. By then, he still has to participate in 18 race weekends.
It is important to note that penalty points aren't assigned by one but by two, most commonly. Therefore, the Haas driver only has to make one more mistake, and he will face a race ban.
In such a case, the team has to pick one of their two reserve drivers: Pietro Fittipaldi or Oliver Bearman. It is expected that the American team would favor the 18-year-old Briton.