Bearman Escapes Major Injury After 50-g Crash

Bearman Escapes Major Injury After 50-g Crash Kym Illman - Getty Images Haas’ Ollie Bearman escaped with a right knee contusion after a frightening high-speed accident during Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Bearman was chasing the Alpine of Franco Colapinto for a net 15th position when he was caught out by the difference in speed on the run to Spoon curve—one of the areas where drivers have encountered super clipping. At the point where the circuit drifts further to the right Bearman had to jink left to avoid the slowing Alpine and was a passenger from thereon.

Bearman bounced across the grass, spun across the circuit—fortunately no car was in his path—and slammed heavily into the barriers. The Briton was able to extricate himself from the wreckage of the VF-26 but subsequently limped away and was aided by trackside marshals. Bearman was taken to the medical center where he was diagnosed with a right knee contusion but cleared of any further injury.

Haas also confirmed that Bearman suffered a 50 g impact. View this post on Instagram “First of all, everything is fine and I’m good,” Bearman said. “It was a scary moment out there, but everything is okay, which is the main thing.

The adrenaline is wearing off a bit, so it’s going to be a long trip home, but I’m absolutely fine. The car is a bit worse for wear, but we now have a month to reset, but I can only apologize to the team because it’s a lot of work. “There was a massive overspeed—around 50 kph [31 mph]—which is a part of these new regulations, and we have to get used to it, but also I felt like I wasn’t given much space, given the huge excess speed I was carrying.