Nico Hulkenberg backs ‘very consistent’ F1 driver to partner Oliver Bearman at Haas

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Nico Hulkenberg has backed Haas to consider a ‘very consistent’ Formula 1 driver to be the teammate of Oliver Bearman in 2025 but expects rival teams will be interested.

The British Grand Prix week saw Haas confirm Bearman will form part of their driver line-up next year. But one seat remains vacant in their garage for 2025 with Kevin Magnussen yet to sign new terms. He is out of contract after 2024 when Hulkenberg will quit Haas for Sauber.

Having the chance to be a works Audi driver from the 2026 season convinced Hulkenberg to sign a multi-year contract in April. The German automotive giants have bought total control of Sauber and will take the Swiss operation over to enter F1 under its upcoming regulations.

Nico Hulkenberg backs Haas to keep Kevin Magnussen beside Oliver Bearman in 2025

Haas attempted to tempt Hulkenberg to sign a new contract before joining the Audi-Sauber project. The 36-year-old even claimed team principal Ayao Komatsu ‘gave everything’ in his bid to keep Hulkenberg. Now, they are pursuing an experienced driver to partner Bearman.

But Hulkenberg feels Haas may already have the ideal teammate for Bearman in Magnussen after a ‘very consistent’ season. The 31-year-old has only scored five points to the German’s 22 so far this year. Yet Magnussen has also sacrificed races to help Hulkenberg score points.

READ MORE: F1 2025 driver line-up with every team’s confirmed entry for the grid

“For sure [Magnussen is a candidate],” Hulkenberg told PlanetF1.com. “Obviously, it’s not my responsibility and not my decision at all. But Kevin’s been also very consistent this year.

“There were a few moments in sessions where really small details made a difference between him and myself. Often on TV, the outcome or the result looks massive.

“But, actually, it’s really small stuff from when I look at it, and obviously I have more access to data and see exactly what happened on his side.

“So, I think he’s doing a solid job. I think he’s still a candidate, very much, for Haas or maybe some other teams.”

Kevin Magnussen has been a huge team player for Haas in 2024

Magnussen has often hovered on the cusp of scoring points in the 2024 term for Haas. The Dane finished a fifth Grand Prix in 12th place at Silverstone, while Hulkenberg left the British GP with eight points for P6. Qualifying was key with Magnussen in P17 to his teammate’s P6.

READ MORE: F1 2024 teammate head-to-head battles including race, Sprint and qualifying

A 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda also saw Magnussen end the Chinese GP in P16 as Hulkenberg took P10. There was only 17.057 seconds between the Haas duo on the road in Shanghai. Magnussen even sacrificed himself in Jeddah and Miami.

Contact with Alex Albon drew the first of two 10 second time penalties in the Saudi Arabian GP, with Magnussen picking up a second for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. The penalties saw Haas use the Dane as a moving road block to help Hulkenberg create his lead.

Similarly, Magnussen went over the limits trying to defend from Lewis Hamilton in the Sprint at the Miami GP to help Hulkenberg create a buffer. He drew three 10-second time penalties plus a five-second penalty for desperate defensive moves that helped Hulkenberg secure P7.