The Japanese Grand Prix incident involving Oliver Bearman cannot be ignored. The crash of the young British Haas driver serves as a serious warning sign—one that Fernando Alonso had already predicted and that Carlos Sainz has now strongly underlined.
During the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Oliver Bearman was involved in a heavy accident on lap 22. The Haas driver suddenly found himself directly behind Franco Colapinto, whose car had almost come to a complete stop on track due to battery depletion. Bearman, who had a higher level of available electrical energy at that moment, attempted a high-speed evasive maneuver to avoid a collision. However, he lost control after running onto the grass at Turn 13—the well-known Spoon Curve—and crashed violently into the barriers, experiencing a deceleration of 50G. Fortunately, medical examinations confirmed that Bearman escaped without fractures, suffering only a bruise to his left knee, and was declared out of danger.
Fernando Alonso’s prediction
Fernando Alonso had already anticipated such a scenario even before the race, during an interview with DAZN Formula 1. His comments highlighted how overtaking in modern Formula 1 is increasingly determined not by driver skill, bravery, or alternative racing lines, but by differences in battery charge between cars.
Alonso said: “There is no fun—what kind of fun is there in overtaking without even wanting to? Suddenly you find yourself with more battery than the car ahead, and either you crash into him or you overtake him. It becomes more of an evasive maneuver than a real overtake where you say ‘I will put him under pressure,’ go around the outside, or take a different line through the corner. Now it’s simply a matter of having more or less battery than your rivals—you either overtake or get overtaken.”
Carlos Sainz’s reaction
Carlos Sainz, speaking in his role as a representative of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, took a very firm stance immediately after the Japanese Grand Prix. He called on Formula 1 and the FIA to rethink the 2026 technical regulations, particularly regarding electric energy management. According to Sainz, the incident was not an isolated or unpredictable event, but rather the result of systemic issues that drivers have repeatedly warned about.
In his statements to DAZN F1, Sainz said: “I am not an expert on these engines, but we need to find a solution—we have to do whatever it takes. I don’t care if we lose half a second or even a second per lap, if we need to reduce power so that the electric motor lasts longer, with less super clip, less lift and coast, and less importance on boost. I am sure it would be safer and also more enjoyable, because we would not depend so much on energy. For me it doesn’t matter—the solution must be found as soon as possible.”
Sainz also recalled that Fernando Alonso had already warned about the risks associated with limited energy autonomy, emphasizing that having more battery than the car ahead often becomes essential just to avoid collisions or forced maneuvers.
The Spanish driver openly criticized the type of racing currently seen in Formula 1. In his view, the overtakes are not genuine wheel-to-wheel battles, but simple “exchanges.” He explained: “You go here, you position yourself, and then you just continue—it’s not a Formula 1 overtake. It’s more like a highway where you press the boost and pass whenever you want.” For this reason, he added: “As a category, I think we need to improve, and I am sure that if they listen to the drivers, they will make changes.”
The need for change
Sainz highlighted that the risks could be even greater on circuits more dangerous than Suzuka, which benefits from relatively generous run-off areas. He pointed out that a similar situation on tracks such as Baku or Las Vegas—where walls are extremely close and speed differences created by boost can reach 30, 40, or even 50 km/h—could lead to far more serious consequences.
The Williams driver described the incident as something that “was only a matter of time,” as drivers had already warned the FIA and Formula One Management about the dangers associated with excessive reliance on electric energy systems.
According to Sainz, the five-week break leading up to the Miami Grand Prix represents a valuable opportunity to act. He expressed hope that Formula 1 will carefully reflect on the situation and that teams will not resist necessary changes: “I hope that Formula 1 and the teams do not push back too much, because it is clear that this regulation has gaps and problems that must be solved before going to Miami and to other types of circuits.”
The views of Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz converge on a central point: current energy management reduces on-track excitement while increasing risks for drivers. Both drivers stress the importance of reducing the influence of boost and battery dependency in order to restore more authentic racing battles based on driver skill, while also improving safety across all types of circuits.
Oliver Bearman’s crash at Suzuka has made these critical issues impossible to ignore and highlights the urgent need for intervention before similar situations occur on even more demanding circuits. It is no coincidence that the FIA is already preparing to step in to address this growing problem.
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