Sainz Calls for FIA Action After Bearman's Huge Suzuka Crash
Carlos Sainz urges FIA to address speed differences in F1 after Oliver Bearman's 50G crash at Japanese Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff backs Sainz's call for FIA investigation into speed differences following Bearman's high-speed crash at Suzuka...
Carlos Sainz is calling out the FIA after Oliver Bearman's massive crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Bearman's Haas hit the barriers with a whopping 50G force at Spoon corner, and Sainz thinks it's an accident waiting to happen. The Williams driver is urging the FIA to listen to drivers' concerns about the new regulations.
The crash happened when Bearman approached Franco Colapinto's Alpine with a huge speed difference, causing him to lose control and smash into the barriers. Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, warned that these kinds of accidents will keep happening if the FIA doesn't make some changes.
The FIA has announced it'll review the 2026 regulations, with meetings scheduled for April to discuss potential changes. Drivers like Sainz and Max Verstappen are pushing for safer racing conditions, citing the risks of high closing speeds. Bearman, thankfully, escaped with a knee bruise.
Ollie Bearman's high-speed scare. The 20-year-old lost control of his Haas at 308kph, swerved onto the grass, and smashed through a marker board. Luckily, he's okay, with just a right knee contusion - no broken bones. Safety car deployed, and the race was interrupted.
“He had huge closing speed against the car in front, so had to take avoiding action and went on the grass and crashed. Scary,” team boss Ayao Komatsu told Sky Sports TV during the race.
Speed differences are becoming a major concern in F1, partly due to the new engine era and increased electrical element. Drivers are having to manage these risks, and it looks like it's catching up with them.
Sainz, representing the GPDA, is urging the FIA to take action. “We've feared this could happen,” he said, calling for the governing body to address the issue ASAP.
“We've been warning them about this happening, this kind of closing speeds and this kind of accidents were always going to happen,” he said. “I'm not very happy with what we've had up until now.”
We come away with another point for the team 👏 An unfortunate crash for Ollie, but he has reported to be OK and sustained no fractures. #HaasF1 #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/BPNBvYzBOh
— TGR Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 29, 2026
“Hopefully we come up with a better solution that doesn't create these massive closing speeds and (produces) a safer way of going racing.
“Here we were lucky there was an escape road. Now imagine going to Baku or going to Singapore or going to Vegas (street circuits) and having this kind of closing speeds and crashes next to the walls.”
Toto Wolff is on board with Sainz's concerns. The Mercedes boss thinks F1 needs to investigate these speed differences and address the issue.
“The regulations are at a very immature way and actually the FIA and us teams we're going to analyse the accident very carefully to see how we can avoid these things,” said the Austrian.
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