Bearman’s Crash Is a Wake-Up Call
The governing body can no longer ignore drivers’ criticism.
Safety is paramount.
Pretty much every Formula 1 fan agrees with this statement. Sometimes, however, it feels like this phrase acts as a magic spell, shielding the race director’s decisions from criticism-such as the red flag during last year’s Belgian Grand Prix, which was called because it was supposedly too wet.
Following Oliver Bearman’s 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA now finds itself between a rock and a hard place. The reason is simple: certain aspects of the 2026 regulations do not fully align with the safety is paramount philosophy.
Clipping vs. the Mushroom
On lap 21, Bearman was chasing Franco Colapino on the flat-out section leading to the Spoon corner. He used the mushroom to overtake, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Just as the battery gave the Brit the power boost, the Alpine ahead began clipping. The two combined to create an overspeed of around 50 km/h, leaving Bearman only split seconds to react when Colapinto moved slightly to the left, as if intending to cover the inside line.
The Brit evaded, went off track, collected the meter boards, lost control, and hit the barrier like a knocked-out boxer hitting the canvas. Thankfully, Bearman suffered no fractures, but he has a minor knee contusion to heal.
Although, after the race, the Brit took issue with the Argentinian’s move, both drivers pointed to the overspeed as the main cause of the crash.
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We need to be a bit more lenient and a bit more prepared, as unfortunately this was the result of a massive delta speed which we’ve not seen in Formula 1 before.
The speed difference is so big and so large. It’s almost like you’re on an out-lap and another guy is in a push lap. It’s really odd.
Carlos the Outspoken
After seeing the crash, Carlos Sainz didn’t shy away from pointing a finger at the FIA, asserting that it could’ve been avoided if the governing body had listened to drivers.
I was so surprised when they said: ‘No, we will sort qualifying answers, leave the racing alone because it is exciting’, because as drivers, we’ve been extremely vocal that the problem is not only qualifying, it is also racing.
We’ve been warning that this kind of accident was always going to happen, and we were lucky there was an escape road. Now, imagine going to Baku, or Singapore, or Vegas and having these kinds of closing speeds and crashes next to walls.
The cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix may be a blessing in disguise. Jeddah, with its blind corners and walls, could be even more dangerous than the circuits mentioned by the Spaniard.
Regardless, the most damning criticism Sainz voiced was that the governing body ignored drivers’ warnings and chose excitement over safety.
The FIA hasn’t directly responded to his remarks, but the overall backlash the governing body has faced prompted them to issue a statement — typical PR slop — that avoids any admission or commitment.
Changes Are Coming?
Although the official messaging is, whatever it is, rumors in the paddock suggest that the FIA has gradually begun to acknowledge that the 50/50 split wasn’t the best idea.
The pushback from drivers hasn’t diminished. Just over the weekend, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and Lando Norris lamented the current state of affairs, and Max Verstappen even suggested that he might leave Formula 1 at the end of the year.
There’s a lot of time to think about long-term changes for the coming years. However, the safety risks must not only be addressed but also resolved. The FIA has more than a month for this before the Miami Grand Prix.
Clipping and super clipping are probably the top priorities on the authorities’ list. The question is, if they do anything with the mushroom? Nerfing it could lead to fewer yo-yo battles, which have been the main attraction of these regulations.
Originally published at https://grumpykerb.substack.com.
