Kevin Magnussen believes it has been “helpful” to Haas to have experienced drivers in its Formula 1 line-up amid rumours linking Oliver Bearman with the team in 2025.
Bearman was handed an unexpected F1 debut in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he deputised for the unwell Carlos Sainz, who had an appendix operation, at Ferrari.
Despite receiving one hour of practice on one of the most challenging circuits, the Briton qualified 11th and then raced to a seventh-place finish, beating Lewis Hamilton.
Bearman conducted two practice outings with Haas last term and is set to receive six this season, enhancing expectations that he’s being prepped for a promotion to F1.
However, Magnussen has cautioned that Haas appreciates the benefit provided from having mature drivers following the American outfit’s strong start to the latest season.
Asked whether he would welcome Bearman as a team-mate, Magnussen said: “I think jumping in at a race weekend with a big team like Ferrari, there’s got to be quite a lot of pressure.
“At the same time, when you get thrown in at the deep end like that, It can also kind of go the other way that you feel not a lot of pressure because the job is so big that it’s kind of like unknown what the optimum performance should look like in that case.
“So I guess it was an awesome opportunity that he got, racing in such a cool track with Ferrari. Doing your debut race with Ferrari must be a very special feeling.
“Would I like him as a team-mate? I think, you know, looking at him as a young guy, you know, racing, I can relate to where he is in his career and in his life.
“So I hope all the best for him, of course. Nico is a very, very competent team-mate. And, you know, I think we have a very good dynamic in the team. We’re working really well together.
“And I think, you know, the journey that we’re on as a team, I think it’s helpful having experienced drivers, but it’s obviously out of my control.
“I think we’ve just got to make the maximum of what we have right now with the two drivers and the car we have, which I think is going alright.”
Hulkenberg has warned Bearman that his exploits in F1 will soon be forgotten about unless he follows that up with a convincing sophomore campaign in Formula 2.
The Prema driver had qualified on pole position in Jeddah until his F1 call-up, while he has accumulated just two points in the two rounds he has competed in to date.
Quizzed on whether he competing with Magnussen to secure a seat alongside Bearman, Hulkenberg replied: “I think it’s very early and way too early to say that.”
“I think he’s got a big job on his hands in F2 first of all, because otherwise, if he’s not doing well there this Jeddah race is going to be forgotten in two days.
“You know how this business works. So I think quite a bit of pressure on him there to deliver now in F2, actually.”
Discussion about this post