Guenther Steiner sends Oliver Bearman a bold ‘reality check’ alert before Baku
Tereza Hořínková
News.gp journalist and a girl with big dreams
Former Team Principal of Haas and a very well-known figure in Formula 1, Guenther Steiner, expressed his worries about Oliver Bearman jumping into Haas in Baku to replace banned Kevin Magnussen as it is a way different car than a Ferrari, in which he scored an amazing 7th place in Saudi Arabia after stepping in for sick Carlos Sainz.
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Kevin Magnussen has been suspended for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after his super license was revoked upon reaching the 12-point penalty threshold. This makes him the first F1 driver to be banned under the system introduced in 2014. The suspension follows an additional two penalty points for a collision with Pierre Gasly at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza last weekend. After serving his ban, Magnussen will return for the Singapore Grand Prix with a clean slate.
Former Haas Team Principal and Magnussen’s past boss, Guenther Steiner, wrote in his column for F1.com that he wasn’t surprised about the ban.
“Kevin did a good job at Monza [scoring 1 point for Haas for finishing P10]. When he is in a position to score something, he stands up behind the wheel. When he’s motivated, he’s a very good driver,” Steiner stated.
“Now he gets some free time off with this race ban! It was highly possible that he would get a ban before the end of the year because he was so close to the penalty point limit.
“Is he happy about the ban? No. Was it unexpected? No. He did too many things in the beginning of the year, which maybe he shouldn’t have done.
“This one [collision with Pierre Gasly] wasn’t actually that bad but if you get a penalty – you get points as well."
In Baku, Haas decided to replace Magnussen with young talent Oliver Bearman, who also signed a full-time contract with the team earlier this year.
As he is a reserve driver for Ferrari, the Italian team had to give him the green light but that happened with no issues. Bearman has already made his F1 race debut this season when he stepped in for sick Carlos Sainz and scored an amazing seventh place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Steiner now issues in his column for F1.com, that it will be way different for Bearman in Haas’s car compared to Ferrari’s.
“Ollie was the obvious choice to stand-in for him [Magnussen] at Haas.
“It’s also going to be a reality check,” warned Steiner.
“Jumping in a Ferrari is one thing, jumping in one that isn’t doing podiums is a different thing to get your head around.
“But it’s good for him to get in the car ahead of his full-time debut with the team next year. He did a great job for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia and I’m sure he’ll do a good job in Baku – and then next season,” he added.
