Haas driver Kevin Magnussen faces a race ban at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix after reaching the maximum penalty points limit. The ban comes in the wake of a tumultuous Italian Grand Prix, where Magnussen's collision with Pierre Gasly proved costly, both on and off the track.
The Italian GP was a high-stakes affair for the Danish driver, who secured his first point since the Austrian Grand Prix by finishing in 10th place. The VF-24's strong race pace allowed Magnussen to climb through the midfield, engaging in a fierce strategic battle with Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso for the final points positions.
Here are some pictures of the incident:
However, his efforts were overshadowed by an incident with Gasly, where Magnussen missed his braking point into turn 4 and made contact with the Frenchman. This mistake resulted in a 10-second time penalty and, crucially, added two penalty points to his license.
Why Kevin Magnussen was banned?
Heading into the race weekend, Kevin Magnussen was already carrying 10 penalty points, just two shy of the annual limit. The collision pushed him over the threshold, bringing his total to 12 points and triggering an automatic race ban. This penalty means the Haas driver will be sidelined for the next race at Baku, a significant blow for both the team and Magnussen.
With Magnussen out for Baku, Haas is expected to bring in Oliver Bearman as his replacement. The British driver, who has previously shown his potential by finishing 7th at this year's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix for Ferrari, is set to take over Magnussen's seat.
Bearman is not only well-prepared for the challenge, but this opportunity will also serve as a valuable experience ahead of his full-time role at Haas next season, where he will join forces with Esteban Ocon in an all-new driver lineup.
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