Oliver Bearman suffered a heavy, peak-50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix when he clipped Alpine driver Franco Colapinto’s gearbox while attempting an overtake at Spoon Curve on lap 22. The 20-year-old Haas driver, a member of the Ferrari academy, dipped onto the grass, spun across the track and made heavy contact with the outside barrier; the impact brought out the safety car. Stewards reviewed the incident and said no investigation was necessary.

Bearman exited the car with a limp, sat beside the barrier and, after being helped by marshals, walked away from the wreck before being taken to the circuit medical center. He was later assessed at the FIA medical center, where X-rays showed no fractures but he was diagnosed with a right-knee contusion; Haas said the contusion will be monitored and noted he had FIA dispensation not to attend the post-race media pen.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu (spelled Aayo in some reports) said he did not think Colapinto was to blame and pointed to “a huge closing speed” as a contributing factor. Haas added Bearman should have time to recuperate before the season resumes in Miami in May, noting the April Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands had been canceled earlier.

Sources