Oliver Bearman encountered significant distress after a high-speed collision at the Japanese Grand Prix. The British racer urgently signaled for assistance from the track marshals after his Formula 1 car spun out of control and hit a barrier.
Marshals helped Bearman walk after he was removed from the Haas car, visibly in pain. He limped and then collapsed behind the barrier, holding his right lower leg and ankle, prompting the medical team to intervene.
Bearman was swiftly taken to the circuit medical center for further evaluation. Haas later reported that X-rays showed no fractures, only a bruise on his right knee.
The incident caused a delay in the Grand Prix as the damaged Haas car was recovered and the barrier repaired. Racing resumed on lap 28 with Kimi Antonelli leading the restart, benefitting from not having pitted yet, while George Russell had just come in for fresh tires.
Antonelli maintained his lead post-restart, with Oscar Piastri in second, although the McLaren driver began to lose pace. Lewis Hamilton’s aggressive racing saw him move up to third, creating challenges for his former Mercedes teammate Russell, according to reports.
Russell expressed frustration over his misfortune, having pitted just before the safety car period. In contrast, Antonelli’s timing worked well for him as he recovered from a poor start due to wheelspin.
Russell’s struggles continued as he faced deployment issues, losing positions to Charles Leclerc. Piastri held onto second place ahead of Hamilton, while Lando Norris and Max Verstappen also found it difficult to make progress.
Verstappen encountered obstacles overtaking Gasly’s Alpine, as his Red Bull car posed challenges even for a single pass attempt.