Oliver Bearman was involved in a high-speed incident during the Japanese Grand Prix, resulting in his car colliding with a barrier. The Haas F1 driver attributed the crash to a significant speed differential with another competitor under new regulations. Following the event, Haas F1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu addressed the incident, advising Bearman against excessive self-criticism while acknowledging his contributions to the team.
Incident Details
During the Japanese Grand Prix, Oliver Bearman, who had qualified 18th and made an early pit stop, was following Franco Colapinto's Alpine. This occurred in the middle sector, as he approached the 'spoon curve' corner. A speed differential, estimated between 45 km/h and approximately 50 kph, developed between the two vehicles. This difference was due to distinct energy modes used by the drivers and new regulations. Bearman stated this speed difference was unexpected.
Bearman rapidly closed the distance to Colapinto's car, undertaking evasive action. This maneuver led to his car sliding over the grass, subsequently spinning, and colliding with a barrier at high speed. The car was traveling at 308 km/h, and the impact was recorded at 50G.
Post-Incident Assessment
Following the crash, Bearman was observed limping after exiting his cockpit. He was later cleared by the medical center and diagnosed with a right knee contusion.
Driver's Statement
Oliver Bearman issued a statement regarding the incident:
"First of all, everything is fine and I’m good. It was a scary moment out there, but everything is okay, which is the main thing."
He apologized to his team for the damage sustained by the vehicle, noting:
"The car is a bit worse for wear, but we now have a month to reset, but I can only apologise to the team because it’s a lot of work."
Bearman attributed the situation to the speed differential, explaining:
"There was a massive overspeed – around 50kph – which is a part of these new regulations, and we have to get used to it."
He also suggested that more space was needed given the speed he was carrying, adding, "We need to be a bit more lenient and a bit more prepared, as unfortunately this was the result of a massive delta speed which we’ve not seen in Formula 1 before." Bearman concluded by stating his intention to "reset and come back strong in Miami."
Team Principal's Response
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal for Haas F1, addressed Oliver Bearman regarding the crash. Komatsu urged Bearman not to overly self-criticize following the incident.
Komatsu acknowledged Bearman's disappointment but reminded him of his significant contributions to Haas's constructors' championship standing, including scoring 16 points in Australia and China, with a fifth-place finish in Shanghai.
Komatsu emphasized that the team operates collectively, stating they "win and lose together," and encouraged Bearman to recover from the setback.
Komatsu did not attribute full blame for the incident to Bearman. He highlighted the substantial 45 km/h closing speed difference as a key factor. When questioned about potential driver error and F1's new regulations, Komatsu characterized the event as a 'small misjudgment' rather than an 'error', noting that Bearman had not previously encountered such specific conditions under the current, relatively new regulations.