At Haas, Oliver Bearman and Nico Hülkenberg will drive for the first time at Imola
The American team's reserve driver Oliver Bearman will discover the Imola track in a Formula 1 car during free practice, as will Nico Hülkenberg, who has never driven on this Italian circuit in the premier class of motorsport.
Formula 1 is getting ready to compete in its first European Grand Prix of the season at the legendary Imola circuit in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. This is a comeback to this track as the 2023 edition had to be canceled due to severe weather conditions that had made the track and its surroundings impassable.
Two years ago, Haas F1 managed to score points thanks to Kevin Magnussen. This year, the American team has decided to have its reserve driver and member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Oliver Bearman, drive during the first free practice session in Imola.
The 19-year-old driver will thus drive for the first time in an F1 at Imola during an official session, he who has already participated in free practice sessions with Haas F1 in 2023, during the Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Bearman had especially impressed during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this season when he replaced Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari at short notice to finish 7th in the race, while he was taking the wheel of the SF-24 for the first time.
« I am very excited to be able to join the team and take part in FP1 at Imola. The team is having a strong season and I hope, with the experience I have gained since I last sat in the car, that I will be able to help them maintain the form they are in!
The one favored for a seat at Haas F1 next season will replace Kevin Magnussen alongside Nico Hülkenberg. The German driver will also discover Imola at the wheel of an F1 as he was not a regular driver during the return of the Italian circuit to the calendar between 2020 and 2022.
« This will only be the seventh meeting of the season but I feel like we started a long time ago. It feels good to be back in Europe. I have never driven on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and I am excited to tick this track off my list especially since I enjoy it a lot on the simulator » declared the future Audi F1 driver.
Before the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Haas F1 is 7th in the constructors’ standings, twelve points behind Racing Bulls.
