Bearman’s Grid Penalty Overshadows Promising Qualifying at British GP
Silverstone, UK – Oliver Bearman faced disappointment after qualifying eighth for the British Grand Prix, only to incur a 10-place grid penalty due to a red-flag infringement during practice. The 20-year-old Haas driver lost control of his car while entering the pit lane, leading to a collision with the wall and significant damage. This incident followed Gabriel Bortoleto’s crash, which triggered the red flag.
Despite reaching Q3 and showcasing the pace of a significantly improved Haas, Bearman will now start the race from 18th due to this penalty. It marks Bearman’s second grid penalty of the year, having received a similar sanction in Monaco for a prior red-flag breach.
“I wish I could go back and change it, but we can’t,” Bearman told Sky Sports, expressing frustration over the incident. “I didn’t account for the cold brakes and tyres. It was a silly error, and I take full responsibility for it.” He acknowledged the performance of the Haas team, highlighting that the car was competitive in qualifying for the first time in recent events.
The FIA’s stewards reported that Bearman’s actions violated the requirement to drive slowly under red-flag conditions, resulting in four additional penalty points, increasing his total to eight.
“I know I’m going to start from last tomorrow, but I’ll see what I can do,” Bearman concluded, determined to make the most of the race despite the setback.
The British Grand Prix is scheduled for tomorrow, and Bearman aims to leverage the pace demonstrated in qualifying to recover positions during the race.
