Bearman and Ocon clash over alleged lap blocking in Monaco practice
Haas teammates Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon clashed over alleged lap blocking during Monaco practice, producing a series of heated team‑radio exchanges that were broadcast and captured on onboard footage. The initial confrontation unfolded in FP1, when Bearman repeatedly backed out of flying laps and led Ocon out of the pits while Ocon followed closely, prompting Ocon to complain that Bearman had ruined his hot laps twice. The row escalated on team radio, with Bearman heard calling Ocon an “idiot” on air and Ocon using stronger language about having his laps impeded. Haas race engineer Laura Muller instructed Ocon to back off, but Ocon at one point overtook Bearman into the Anthony Noghes corner. The dispute continued to be referenced around FP2, where Bearman put in the stronger showing on track. In FP1 Bearman posted a 1:16.292 to sit 16th and Ocon a 1:16.333 to be 17th, Bearman 0.041 seconds quicker. Bearman improved in FP2 to 1:14.456 and 10th, while Ocon remained 17th in both sessions. Bearman, 19, called FP2 “a step forward” and said the team still had work to do overnight to optimise the car. Ocon, 29, downplayed the row after FP2, saying he had also been held up several times, that the team had swapped positions and resolved the issue, and that practice was about finding the car’s limits ahead of pushing harder the following day. He also commented that the new‑generation cars at Monaco felt “a bit more old school” with less energy‑management demand. Haas sporting boss Ayao Komatsu held a debrief after the FP1 incident, signalling the team was actively managing driver interactions and extracting lessons from the practice sessions. The tensions come with wider context: Bearman outscored Ocon last season and led him by 17 points in the 2026 standings entering Monaco, having three points finishes so far this year, while Ocon had scored one point in the opening five races. Media reports noted neither driver’s future at Haas is guaranteed beyond 2026, a point Ocon called “complete nonsense,” saying he had a good relationship with Komatsu and remained focused on his job.
