Oliver Bearman told he must do in Baku to prove he ‘deserves’ his 2025 F1 seat

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Oliver Bearman is stepping up to Formula 1 for the 2025 season and could be on the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix next time out for Haas as Kevin Magnussen will serve a one-race ban.

The Danish driver will be forced to sit out the race in Baku after accumulating 12 penalty points on his superlicence, enough for a race ban.

Bearman is the most likely candidate for Haas to partner with Nico Hulkenberg for the weekend. After his impressive performance in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Ferrari, he should be ahead of fellow reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi in the queue.

The unforgiving streets of Baku may present a tough test for the 19-year-old and he needs to deliver a strong result ahead of becoming a full-time F1 driver next year.

Davide Valsecchi wants to see ‘something more’ from Oliver Bearman in Azerbaijan

Bearman has struggled in Formula 2 for PREMA as the Italian team have struggled to adapt to the new car.

The British driver has failed to put together a championship challenge and hasn’t been consistently at the front, only scoring two Sprint Race victories.

Since its inception, Formula 2 has been an unpredictable championship, with results that do not always accurately represent a driver’s talent.

Haas has seen past Bearman’s lacklustre F2 season and shown faith in a talented driver, although the 2012 GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi wants Bearman to compete with Hulkenberg.

The Italian said on the F1 Nation podcast: “Watching him in Formula 2, I don’t know, he needs to do something special in Formula 1 again.

“In Formula 2, he’s been up and down so much. He’s been so often behind our Kimi Antonelli, almost every time, I’m honest, almost every time.

“I would like to see from him something more. Again, another proof. I know that I’m asking a lot, but stay there close to Hulkenberg will be the key for me to understand that he deserves it.”

Oliver Bearman needs to avoid rookie errors and compete with Esteban Ocon in 2025

Bearman will be able to learn at Haas alongside Esteban Ocon, who will also be driving in his first year at Haas.

The American team will likely be contending to score points and run in the midfield. This environment could be important for the Haas driver to learn the tricks of the trade away from the spotlight of the front of the field.

READ MORE: Lawrence Barretto shares ‘favourite’ to replace Kevin Magnussen in Baku after earning one-race ban

In Ocon, he has a teammate who is very fast and won a Grand Prix, taking victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix for Alpine in 2021.

The Frenchman’s raw speed will help push the team forward but he hasn’t bad the best relationships with teammates in the past, clashing with Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly.

It will be essential to avoid a similar dynamic within the team after Haas has quietly made progress this season.