The Japanese Grand Prix was marked by an impressive accident involving Ollie Bearman’s Haas due to the sudden drop in speed of Franco Colapinto’s Alpine ahead of him: danger!
Read more Max Verstappen limited the damage well, but Isack Hadjar struggled at Suzuka
Approaching the Spoon corners, Bearman left the track at 308 km/h, after trying to avoid Franco Colapinto, whose Alpine had slowed down due to super-clipping, a phenomenon that occurs when the car slows down to recharge its batteries. The speed difference between the two cars was estimated at 90 km/h, which led to a loss of control on the grass and an impact against the wall evaluated at 50G.
Bearman was immediately transported to the medical center for X-rays, which turned out to be normal, reassuring about his state of health.
Worried drivers
Carlos Sainz, taking the role of GPDA director, expressed his frustration: he stressed that this type of incident had been predicted by the drivers since the start of the season. For him, the excessive focus on qualifying performance has sometimes taken precedence over race safety.
“This type of situation had been predicted by the drivers since the beginning of the year, the Spanish driver said. Safety must never be relegated behind performance.”
According to veteran Fernando Alonso, this is not just about fighting another car, but also about the differences in strategies during qualifying.
Read more Carlos Sainz’s warning after Oliver Bearman’s crash: «It was predictable»
« For me, the most dangerous part is qualifying, Alonso indicated. When someone is on a recharge lap and someone else is on a fast lap, the speed difference is crazy. Circuits like Baku, Singapore or Monaco, street circuits where there is no possibility of avoiding or run-off areas, it will be complicated, especially with 22 cars. »
Clarifications from the FIA
The FIA reacted to the criticism in an official statement, recalling that the 2026 regulations are designed to include adjustable parameters, particularly in terms of energy management, in order to optimize performance while maintaining safety.
A structured review of the new regulations will be carried out after the initial phase of the season, with several meetings scheduled in April to analyze the data and consider potential adjustments. Any change, particularly on energy management, will require rigorous simulation and in-depth analysis.
The FIA states that safety will always remain at the heart of its mission, and any speculation about potential modifications is currently premature: “The FIA will continue to collaborate closely with all stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for the sport, and safety will always remain a priority.”
Read more Lucky points for Liam Lawson