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Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen is set to skip Formula 1's Friday track action at the Brazilian Grand Prix due to being waylaid with what his team has described as an unspecified sickness.
The 32-year-old Dane will be replaced in the Haas VF-24 by Ollie Bearman, who will be a full-time Haas F1 driver next year.
A request for Bearman to stand in for Magnussen "until further notice" has already been granted by the FIA stewards.
It means that he will run in the sole practice session of the Interlagos weekend - which is being held under a sprint format - and then qualify the VF-24 for the sprint race.
Haas says it "wishes Kevin a quick recovery and will provide a further update in due course".
The only point of the weekend at which Magnussen could return would be in grand prix qualifying on Saturday afternoon.
Bearman had already stood in for Magnussen earlier this season in Baku, when Magnussen was serving a one-race ban.
He'd also raced for Ferrari in Jeddah in relief of an appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari still needs one more rookie FP1 outing to fulfill its quota for the season, and Bearman - who it ran in that role in Mexico - would be ineligible to serve as its rookie driver if he adds an extra grand prix start this weekend, taking his total up to three.
Just a sprint start, however, would not count.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that Magnussen didn't feel well on Thursday, and that "I was hoping that was going to improve overnight but he actually got worse, had nausea, sickness, so wasn't in a fit state to drive today".
Asked why you wouldn't keep Bearman in the car for the race if he's doing the sprint race, Komatsu replied: "I love your question. Honestly we'll just see how it goes. No need to commit to something we don't need to commit to, that's all. I'm sure Ollie will do a very, very good job."
Komatsu referenced it being even more of a shame to happen here given how much Magnussen enjoys the Interlagos track.
He claimed his first career pole in 2022 in incredible circumstances for Haas in changeable conditions.
Magnussen claimed a season-best seventh place last time out in Mexico, finding improved brake feel with the Haas.
