Guenther Steiner warns why Oliver Bearman faces a ‘reality check’ replacing Kevin Magnussen at Baku

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Oliver Bearman will get his second opportunity to race in Formula 1 at Baku ahead of taking a full-time seat at Haas in 2025.

The 19-year-old will join Haas for next season along with Esteban Ocon. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen will depart the American outfit at the end of the 2024 season, with the former joining Sauber.

Haas are enjoying a great run of form this season under team principal Ayao Komatsu. Following Magnussen’s 10th-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, the team are sat in seventh with 28 points in the constructors’ championship, with Hulkenberg scoring 22 of them.

But in the race at Monza, Magnussen picked up two penalty points over an incident with Pierre Gasly, taking his total to 12 which issued him a race ban for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

As anticipated, it will be Bearman who will take control of the VF-24 around the streets of Baku, and he has an opportunity to impress the Haas hierarchy before next season.

Guenther Steiner says Oliver Bearman will face a ‘reality check’ driving for Haas at Baku

Writing in his column on the F1 website, former Haas boss Guenther Steiner explained how Bearman will face an entirely new challenge driving with the team at Baku.

The Brit stepped in for Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix when the Spaniard was diagnosed with appendicitis. Bearman performed superbly on his F1 debut, finishing seventh ahead of fellow compatriots Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.

While the Ferrari is capable of fighting for race wins, the Haas can only score points sporadically, and this is why Steiner believes Baku will be a ‘reality check’ for Bearman.

“Ollie was the obvious choice to stand in for him at Haas. It’s also going to be a reality check,” he wrote.

“Jumping in a Ferrari is one thing, jumping in one that isn’t doing podiums is a different thing to get your head around.

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“But it’s good for him to get in the car ahead of his full-time debut with the team next year. He did a great job for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia and I’m sure he’ll do a good job in Baku – and then next season.”

Baku will be Oliver Bearman’s first full Formula 1 weekend

As Steiner writes, Bearman was naturally the obvious choice to replace Magnussen at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix given that he will drive with the team next season.

While the 19-year-old will be keen to showcase his talent, he will be under pressure to do so, especially considering his struggles in Formula 2.

Bearman is sat 14th in the standings this season, 115 points behind the championship leader Isack Hadjar. Due to his difficult F2 campaign, Davide Valsecchi wants to see ‘something special’ from Bearman at Baku.

Bearman will not be looking to squander this opportunity with Haas in Azerbaijan and will be one to watch on what will be his first full F1 weekend.