F1 team confirm driver lineup change ahead of Brazilian GP

Brazilian Grand Prix

F1 team confirm driver lineup change ahead of Brazilian GP

Formula 1 heads to Interlagos for the final race weekend of the current triple-header

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 2 November 2024 09:57 Updated: 13:17

A Formula 1 team has confirmed they will be making a last-minute driver switch amid the Brazilian GP weekend proceedings in Interlagos.

F1 returns to Sao Paulo for the 21st round of the 2024 season, with a sprint race and regular grand prix providing maximum opportunity for teams and drivers to secure vital points as both the drivers and constructors' championship heats up.

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McLaren have managed to fend off a significant challenge in the constructors' championship thus far, having knocked Red Bull off the top spot at the Azerbaijan GP back in September.

Despair in the Red Bull garage then deepened following Ferrari's victory at the Mexican GP last time out, overtaking the reigning champions in the standings as well, pushing Christian Horner's outfit down into third place amid a disastrous season.

One team who have experienced quite the opposite trajectory in performance however is Haas, with the American team chasing a sixth race in a row where they have scored points, their improved results causing them to overtake Red Bull's junior team RB in the standings.

Christian Horner's outfit have not experienced a positive 2024 season overall

Under the leadership of Ayao Komatsu, Haas have moved up to P6 in the constructors' championship

Haas confirm driver lineup change at Brazilian GP

A last-minute lineup change saw Ollie Bearman return to pilot the Haas of Kevin Magnussen on Friday in Brazil after the 32-year-old was taken ill.

Bearman exceeded expectations during FP1, coming in third fastest at the end of the session, and the young Brit will now get the chance to impress his future team for the entire weekend, after Haas confirmed Magnussen would not be returning to the on-track action at all in Brazil.

Ollie Bearman will stand in for Kevin Magnussen for the entire Brazil GP weekend

A statement posted to the team's official account on social media platform X read: "Following Ollie stepping into the VF-24 for today’s sessions due to Kevin’s sickness, we can confirm that the British driver will now complete the full #BrazilGP weekend with the team.

"We wish Kevin a full and speedy recovery. "

Having signed with Komatsu's team for 2025, the 19-year-old will surely see the unfortunate circumstances for Magnussen as another opportunity for him to get to grips with the car and hit the ground running ahead of his first full season in the sport next year.

Following Ollie stepping into the VF-24 for today’s sessions due to Kevin’s sickness, we can confirm that the British driver will now complete the full #BrazilGP weekend with the team. ??

We wish Kevin a full and speedy recovery. ?#HaasF1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/fqcXeJApQJ
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) November 1, 2024

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

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Mercedes Formula 1 Interlagos Brazilian GP