What Ayao Komatsu said about Oliver Bearman during the season that Davide Valsecchi completely disagrees with

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Oliver Bearman could be set for his Formula 1 debut with Haas sooner than anticipated after events at the Italian Grand Prix.

Kevin Magnussen picked up two penalty points for a collision with Pierre Gasly at Monza. While it was far from his worst infringement this season, it was enough for the stewards to penalise him, taking the Dane’s tally to 12 penalty points.

Subsequently, Magnussen will miss the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking the first driver to be hit with a race ban in more than a decade.

Nico Rosberg had little sympathy for Magnussen after the announcement, with the 2016 champion stating that the Haas driver needs to learn how to take it easy.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship

With Magnussen suspended, Bearman is the favourite to take the Haas seat in Baku. The race will mark the Brit’s second appearance this season, having filled in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in Jeddah.

Davide Valsecchi in complete disagreement with Ayao Komatsu about Oliver Bearman

Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast after the Italian Grand Prix, Formula 2 champion Davide Valsecchi was in complete disagreement over comments made by Haas boss Ayao Komatsu about Bearman earlier in the season.

Bearman, who will drive with Haas full-time next season, has endured a difficult F2 campaign this year with PREMA. After winning the Sprint Race at Monza, Bearman sits 14th in the standings.

During the season, Komatsu said that he was more concerned about how Bearman does in FP1 more than F2, due to his struggles in the junior category.

Valsecchi could not understand the philosophy behind his comments, due to FP1 not necessarily being the session on a race weekend to maximise the car for the best lap possible.

Speaking with Tom Clarkson and fellow F2 champion Theo Pourchaire on the F1 Nation Podcast, he said: “But we also need to remember that they are not always right. So Theo, we cannot manage a team, we don’t have the skill but believe me they are not always right. Why [did] they choose [Logan] Sergeant, to replace him mid of the season? They were not right.

“Why [did] they choose Mick Schumacher, to cut him after two seasons? They were wrong.

“I know how to drive and I don’t know how to drive good enough as the Formula 1 driver, but I know how to drive, to arrive close to there. Why Komatsu knows more than me? I don’t care. I don’t care what he’s saying, that FP1 one counts more.

“Why do you think that [Lewis] Hamilton in FP1 is 110%? Come on, that man pulled off the last three tenths in FP3. Come on, do you think that [Max] Verstappen is showing you how to fall on the line in FP1?

“My friend you are dreaming, or you never used a racing car in motorsport. So you can say whatever he wants, I have my personal opinion and I’m saying Tom that I’m disappointed because I cannot evaluate the young driver at the moment and I’m so confused.”

Davide Valsecchi is struggling to evaluate the young drivers in Formula 2

Valsecchi’s confusion when it comes to evaluating younger drivers is down to Bearman’s position in the F2 standings compared to other junior drivers.

With the Brit 14th, he sits 115 points behind championship leader and Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar, who has only made FP1 appearances for the team and is yet to get his chance in F1.

Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto, who was sixth heading into Monza, was called up to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams for the remainder of the year. After finishing 12th after starting 18th at Monza, teammate Alex Albon was left impressed by Colapinto’s performance.

With drivers sat further down the order in F2 receiving call ups to F1, Valsecchi is struggling to evaluate the drivers, as to him, it matters more about which junior team you are in than if you are competitive in F2.

Bearman hugely impressed on debut with Ferrari in Jeddah earlier in the season, narrowly missing out on Q3 and went on to finish in the points in seventh place.