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Bearman Calls Colapinto’s Suzuka Move “Unacceptable” After 50G Crash as F1 Weighs Safety Tweaks

F1 is weighing near-term changes to limit dangerous speed gaps created by the 2026 energy-harvesting rules.

Overview

  • Bearman, speaking on a podcast released Thursday, said Franco Colapinto moved across too late at Suzuka and called the defending “unacceptable” given a closing speed of about 50 kph.
  • The Haas driver said he is “all good” after knee contusions from the 50G impact, returned to simulator work within days, and expects to race in Miami in early May.
  • F1 and teams have held further meetings on technical steps to reduce extreme speed differences, with options under discussion for introduction before the Miami round.
  • Race stewards took no action over the incident, and Haas boss Ayao Komatsu, Alpine, and Colapinto’s management argued the move reflected the new rules’ energy use rather than driver fault.
  • This season’s power rules let some cars recharge the battery in parts of a lap while others deploy extra power, which can create sudden, large speed gaps that raise the risk of rear‑to‑front contact and airborne crashes.