Haas’ Ollie Bearman reflects on ‘scary’ 50G crash as Suzuka incident sparks safety concerns
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix was momentarily overshadowed by a frightening crash involving Haas driver Oliver Bearman.
On Lap 22, the Brit was forced into evasive action at high speed after rapidly closing in on Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who was slower ahead.
In trying to avoid contact, Bearman moved onto the grass, lost control, and slammed heavily into the barriers.
The impact, measured at 50G, almost immediately brought out the Safety Car and left fans and teams fearing the worst.
‘A really scary moment’
Despite the severity of the crash, Bearman was able to climb out of the car and walk away, albeit with a visible limp.
Reflecting on the incident afterwards, he described it as a “scary moment”, acknowledging just how quickly the situation unfolded at such high speeds.
The 20-year-old escaped without serious injury, later confirmed to have suffered only a knee contusion following checks at the medical centre.
It was a fortunate outcome given the scale of the impact, and one that underlined the continued effectiveness of modern Formula 1 safety systems.
"Everything is good, I'm absolutely fine," said Bearman. "[It] was a really scary moment that happened out there but everything is okay, which is the main thing.
"The car is a bit worse for wear but we have a month now to reset and come back. I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart to the team for that because it's a lot of work for them."
On his injuries, Bearman said, "Everything is fine. Adrenaline wearing off, it's going to be a long trip home but I'm absolutely fine.
"The important thing is that everyone is in really high spirits. We have a month now to reset everything and come back stronger in Miami. That will definitely be the goal."
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Closing speeds under scrutiny
The crash has once again brought attention to a growing concern within the paddock - the significant speed differences between cars under the new 2026 regulations.
Bearman had been travelling considerably faster than the car ahead due to energy deployment differences, leaving him with little time to react.
Drivers and teams have already raised concerns about these closing speeds, warning that such incidents were not only possible, but inevitable under the current rules.
FIA set for review as concerns grow
In the aftermath of Suzuka, the FIA has confirmed that the regulations will be reviewed in April, ahead of the next race in Miami.
The incident has added urgency to those discussions, with many in the sport calling for changes to reduce the risk of similar high-speed accidents in the future.
While Bearman’s escape ensured the weekend did not end in tragedy, his crash may yet prove to be a defining moment in shaping the direction of F1’s new era.
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