FIA Confirms One Race Ban For Magnussen After Collision With Gasly

Sunday, 01 September 2024 at 18:51

Kevin Magnussen received one race ban after causing a collision with another F1 driver, Pierre Gasly, during the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.

Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen will not participate in the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after receiving two penalty points for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly during the Italian Grand Prix.

The Danish driver accumulated too many points too fast at the start of the season, and with ten penalty points to his name, it was clear he could be banned after a single mistake at any point, which is what happened at Monza this weekend.

The 31-year-old driver was setting up a move on Pierre Gasly and wanted to dive down the inside on the Alpine driver going into turn number four at Monza Circuit.

However, his wheels locked up under braking, and he slid into Alpine's driver, who was taking the corner around the outside. Stewards deemed Magnussen to have caused the collision and gave him a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points.

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Magnussen did not agree with the steward's verdict at all, as he spoke to the media after the race. As reported by GPBlog, the Danish F1 driver said:

“"Frustrated about the penalty. I don't understand it at all. Flat out, just completely confused. Me and Gasly raced hard into turn four, we had slight contact, we both missed the corner, then came back on track again, no damage to either car, and no consequence to the race of either of us. But I get a 10-second penalty."”

What the Haas driver didn't initially realize was that two penalty points added to his ten is 12 in total, and rules say that if any driver reaches 12 penalty points, he will be given a race ban. When told he is probably facing a race ban, Magnussen replied:

“"I can come back in Singapore (race after Azerbaijan) and have zero points. I only know that I have the two points from you. I haven't heard it officially."”

“"So, I don't know. I say it all the time. I'm not going to hold back. It doesn't make sense. And I scored a point today. I'll take one point. And probably two penalty points, too. See you."”

About an hour after the race ended, the FIA published a document confirming that Kevin Magnussen would be suspended for one race—the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The document read:

“"The Super Licence of the driver of Car 20 is suspended for the next Competition of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. Following this suspension, 12 penalty points will be removed."”

Who will replace Kevin Magnussen after suspension?

Haas currently has two reserve drivers: Pietro Fittipaldi and Oliver Bearman. While nothing has been confirmed yet, it is very likely that we will see Bearman in Kevin Magnussen's car.

Ferrari already gave this 19-year-old a chance during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (one of the toughest races), and he proved himself.

What's more, Bearman will officially become Haas's driver in 2025, so it would sound reasonable that he would be the team's number-one choice when looking for Magnussen's substitute.