Bearman hits back at Magnussen: 'I can look after myself'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Ever since it was announced that Nico Hulkenberg will swap the Haas team for Kick Sauber, the future Audi works team, many are wondering who will replace him. Ferrari's reserve driver and Formula 2 star Oliver Bearman is frequently associated with the Formula 1 seat that will become vacant in 2025. However, he does not feel entitled to the seat due to his impressive performance in Jeddah earlier this year, where he finished seventh.
Bearman responds to Magnussen's comments: 'I can look after myself'
During the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Magnussen was asked if he would act as a mentor for Bearman if the Brit were to join the team in 2025. To that, the Dane replied that it was not his job to 'look after young children', as he already does that at home. He said he mainly hoped for a "competent, professional and consistent driver like Nico Hulkenberg" and stressed that it was not yet certain whether he would be in the other car next year.
Talking to selected media including GPblog, Bearman replied to Magnussen's comment. "I don't think he'd be looking after me, I can look after myself." Said the 19-year-old, who made a big impression with his Formula 1 debut in Saudi Arabia, where he filled in for an ill Carlos Sainz.
Bearman does not feel he is 'entitled' to F1 seat at Haas
Bearman stressed that his strong performance in Jeddah doesn't entitle him to the vacant F1 seat at Haas. "It's true that I don't just deserve to have the Haas seat which seems to be vacant because I did a good race in F1. I have to continually show show that I deserve it, I have to work for it," he said.
"That's by doing, first of all, good performances in Formula 2, showing that I can fight at the front and contend for the championship. And of course my FP1 experiences with Haas, and I hope that I can show what I'm capable of and show why I deserve that seat," said the Prema driver.
For Bearman, the F2 season so far has not gone as he hoped. He was in a good position several times but has suffered unfortunate breakdowns or incidents. In Saudi Arabia, too, he was supposed to start from pole position but was then called up by Ferrari as Sainz's replacement. In the F2 feature race in Imola, he fell far back from the leading position after his car stalled twice in a row at his pit stop. Will poor F2 performances squander Bearman's F1 chance?