Oliver Bearman Penalized for Red Flag Violation in FP3 at British Grand Prix
Silverstone, UK – Oliver Bearman, driving for Haas F1 Team, has received a 10-place grid penalty for his actions during the third free practice session of the British Grand Prix. The penalty results from Bearman’s failure to adhere to red flag regulations, leading to a crash as he returned to the pit lane.
During a red flag period initiated after Gabriel Bortoleto’s incident, Bearman lost control of his car, impacting the wall at pit entry while approaching at a speed of 260 km/h (160 mph). This speed notably exceeded his previous in-lap time under normal conditions.
Following the crash, which resulted in significant damage to his vehicle, the FIA stewards investigated the incident. The stewards’ report cited Bearman for not reducing his speed as required under Article 37.6(a) of the Formula One Sporting Regulations and Article 2.5.4.1(b) of the International Sporting Code.
"The data clearly showed that Bearman accelerated significantly to race pace upon nearing the pit entry, contrary to red flag regulations," the report stated. "He misjudged the condition of his brakes, contributing to the control loss during a slow-speed scenario."
This incident elevated Bearman’s penalty points to eight, having previously accrued four points for similar violations during the Monaco Grand Prix, where he overtook Carlos Sainz under red flag conditions.
Bearman’s FP3 session at Silverstone was previously red-flagged after debris from his car was found on the track, further complicating his performance ahead of qualifying.
