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Kevin Magnussen received a text from Nico Hulkenberg after São Paulo that might upset Ollie Bearman

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Kevin Magnussen was replaced by Oliver Bearman for the second time in 2024 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after he was sidelined with illness.

The Danish driver came down ill on Friday in Brazil and was subsequently ruled out of FP1 and Sprint qualifying, with Bearman standing in. Due to Sprint rules, the Brit also had to compete in the race on Saturday, where he finished 14th after a challenging event.

Magnussen was not well enough to return to the cockpit for qualifying or the Grand Prix, with Bearman getting his second full weekend in F1 ahead of his permanent move to Haas in 2025. The 18-year-old had made two previous appearances in the pinnacle of motorsport this year – with Ferrari in Jeddah and with Haas in Baku after Magnussen was suspended for picking up 12 penalty points on his superlicense.

F1 Grand Prix of Brazil - Previews
Photo by Peter Fox – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Bearman finished seventh and 10th in those two outings respectively, making him the first F1 driver in history to score points in his first two Grand Prix with two different teams.

The Brit has already shown he is worthy of that full-time seat with Haas next year in situations where he has had limited time to prepare. But at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the Ferrari junior endured a difficult weekend.

In what was his first proper outing in the rain in F1, Bearman struggled in the conditions as he was eliminated in Q1. In the race, he almost took himself out after a spin at turn five and ultimately came home in 12th.

Nico Hulkenberg says Haas could have used Kevin Magnussen at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

His teammate Nico Hulkenberg spun off at turn one shortly before Franco Colapinto’s huge crash brought out the red flag. The German was disqualified from the race when he returned to the pits as he has received assistance from the track officials in getting his car going ahead.

In what was a difficult weekend for Haas, Magnussen revealed to Viaplay the text message that Hulkenberg sent him after the race, and it may not go down well with Bearman.

READ MORE: Haas driver Kevin Magnussen’s life outside F1 from wife and daughters to net worth

Magnussen has had a challenging 2024 campaign as he sits 15th in the standings with just 14 points. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg is sat in the top 10 having grabbed 31 points in an impressive season for the German.

The Danish driver registered his best finish of the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix with seventh in what is only the fourth time he has beaten his teammate in 2024. James Hinchcliffe says it was Magnussen’s ‘strongest weekend’ in a long time as his result helped Haas overtake Visa Cash App RB in the Constructors’ Championship.

Sao Paulo has been a track that has favoured Magnussen in the past. The 32-year-old secured his and Haas’ maiden pole position at the circuit back in 2022.

And Hulkenberg was left feeling that they could have benefitted from another strong showing from the Dane as Magnussen revealed that his teammate had messaged him after the race, saying that Haas ‘could have used him’ for the race in Sao Paulo.

Kevin Magnussen has stressed is F1 career is not over after Haas departure

Bearman will be replacing Magnussen at Haas in 2025 in what will be an all-new driver pairing for the American team. Esteban Ocon will be moving over from Alpine to join the Brit, with Hulkenberg signing a multi-year deal as an Audi works driver.

Speculation has grown as to where the Dane will be going next year, with it being highly unlikely that he will be in a full-time seat in F1 in 2025. Magnussen had been linked as a possible option alongside Hulkenberg at Sauber, but the Swiss team ultimately chose Gabriel Bortoleto for the second seat.

With RB having the final vacant seat for 2025, it is very difficult to imagine Magnussen will be in the conversation to join the Red Bull setup. Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto are being heavily linked with the drive as the team are left wondering what to do with the struggling Sergio Perez.

Despite his 2025 chances looking bleak, Magnussen has stressed that his F1 career is ‘definitely not over’, leaving many to wonder if he will move to a reserve role or target a return in 2026.