2026 Japanese GP: Bearman's 50G Crash Ollie Bearman, the Haas driver, faced a dramatic setback during the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix after crashing heavily during qualifying. The incident, described as a 50G crash, marked a significant moment in the race weekend, leaving Bearman to reflect on his early exit from the session. Despite a strong start to the season, Bearman was unable to match the pace of his competitors, ultimately qualifying in 18th position for the race. The crash occurred during the first qualifying session, where Bearman struggled to find the necessary speed to progress further. In a post-qualifying interview, Bearman admitted he “just didn’t find any pace,” highlighting the challenges he faced on the Suzuka circuit. His exit from Q1 was unexpected, given his previous performances, and raised questions about his ability to adapt to the demanding conditions of the Japanese track. Meanwhile, the race itself saw several key moments. Lewis Hamilton secured third place on the restart following a Safety Car period, overtaking George Russell in a thrilling maneuver. The restart provided a crucial opportunity for Hamilton to move up the order, showcasing his experience and ability to capitalize on race strategy. The race start was equally dramatic, with Oscar Piastri taking the lead into Turn 1. The McLaren driver demonstrated strong pace from the outset, setting the tone for what promised to be a competitive race. Piastri’s early advantage put pressure on the field, particularly on the leaders, who had to navigate the tight and high-speed nature of Suzuka’s layout. Qualifying highlights from the event revealed a tightly contested session, with Antonio Giovinazzi securing pole position after a dramatic final lap.#lewis_hamilton #ollie_bearman #haas #suzuka #japanese_gp
Ollie Bearman expressed surprise at his strong showing during the Sprint Qualifying session ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. The Haas driver finished ninth in Sprint Qualifying 3 (SQ3) at the Shanghai International Circuit, positioning himself to compete in the 19-lap Sprint race from the ninth starting spot. Bearman maintained a steady pace throughout the session, finishing the single, one-hour practice session in seventh place before advancing to the final qualifying round. He remarked, “We showed really good pace already from lap one of FP1 and we were able to build on that and go forward.” Despite challenges with the car’s balance, which Bearman described as “a bit on edge,” he managed to complete a clean lap to secure a respectable qualifying position. He added, “It was a tough session, the balance was a bit on edge and difficult to put the lap together but we got there in the end and happy with P9 today.” Starting directly behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Bearman views scoring points in the Sprint race as a realistic goal. With points awarded to the top eight finishers, his ninth-place start places him on the edge of the scoring group. Bearman’s performance marks progress compared to his seventh-place finish in the opening round in Australia. He noted that the gap to the leading teams has narrowed more than expected. “We seem to have closed it a little bit compared to last week, and honestly prior to the weekend, I was not expecting to be in the fight for the top eight because we expected the four teams to be so far ahead,” he explained. He also pointed out that Red Bull did not demonstrate “incredible pace” during qualifying, suggesting Haas could challenge for points if they optimize their performance in the Sprint.#red_bull #max_verstappen #shanghai_international_circuit #ollie_bearman #haas
Fan Forum: McLaren, Williams, Cadillac, Audi, Aston Martin, Racing Bulls & Alpine hit the fan stage Ollie Bearman, the Haas driver, expressed surprise at his strong performance during the China Sprint Qualifying, starting from ninth position on the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race. The British driver admitted he hadn’t anticipated being in contention for points, having finished seventh in the single-hour practice session on Friday before advancing to SQ3. Bearman highlighted the team’s consistent pace throughout the session, noting that they had built on their early performance in FP1. “We showed really good pace already from lap one of FP1 and were able to build on that and go forward,” he said. Despite the challenges of balancing the car, Bearman was satisfied with his P9 finish. Bearman acknowledged the difficulty of the session, describing the balance as “a bit on edge” but praised the team’s progress. He emphasized that the gap to the leaders was unexpected, especially after finishing seventh in Australia last weekend. “We seem to have closed it a little bit compared to last week,” he noted, adding that the Red Bull of Max Verstappen would be directly ahead of him. Bearman expressed confidence that if the team maximizes their performance on Saturday, they could secure points in the Sprint, which rewards the top eight finishers. He also hinted that the race on Sunday would be where the real competition begins. Haas teammate Esteban Ocon, however, was less pleased with his performance, finishing 12th in SQ3. Ocon admitted the car’s performance had not met expectations, stating, “We can’t be pleased with that.” He acknowledged improvements from FP1 to the qualifying session but emphasized that there were still unresolved issues.#ollie_bearman #esteban_ocon #haas #f1 #china_sprint_qualifying
