Oliver Bearman crashed during FP1 in Melbourne (Image: Sky Sports F1)
has offered up his assessment of a frustrating opening day at the . The teenager crashed at Turn 10 after running wide into the gravel, bringing out a red flag and causing him to miss the remainder of FP1, and all of FP2 as his mechanics worked on repairing the damage. This is Bearman’s first Grand Prix as a full-time F1 driver.
The 19-year-old made three substitute appearances for and Haas in 2024, impressing on all occasions, and these stand-in displays earned him a full-time seat with the latter for 2025. However, the Brit is now on the back foot after missing a significant chunk of the practice time in Melbourne. Haas were forced to put a new engine and gearbox in Bearman’s SF-25 as a result of the damage.
“The feeling was good. I think just wanting a bit too much, too soon – which is kind of my approach, which isn’t really the right one for F1,” the Brit explained. “In F2, you go straight to quali after the first practice session, and in F1, you have two more, so there’s no need to be straight on the limit. Maybe I overdid it slightly, but it’s totally on me.
“Just a bit too much steering lock over the compression at the apex of 10, which sent me wide, and it’s quite bumpy out there. I just lost it. Once you’re in the gravel, it’s so bumpy, and there is asphalt, grass, bumps and I was already out of it, but once you’re there, honestly, there is no more control, unfortunately.”
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