Franco Colapinto expressed his concerns after the race in Japan about the enormous speed differences under the new Formula 1 regulations. The Argentine saw from up close how Oliver Bearman ended up in the tire wall in the early stages of the race. After a 50G impact, the Haas driver fortunately stepped out of the car with only a bruise on his right knee. “Sometimes you have no idea how fast someone is approaching you, which makes it dangerous,” Colapinto says, describing how he experienced the crash.
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Oliver Bearman was behind Franco Colapinto for several laps in Suzuka when things went wrong. The Alpine driver suddenly lost power due to a battery problem, causing Bearman to close in with a high speed difference. The Haas driver was then forced onto the grass, lost control of the car, and ended up in the tire wall at high speed. “It was really strange. The speed difference is so enormous. It feels like you’re on an outlap and someone else is on a pushlap,” Colapinto said in the paddock in Japan.
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‘Addressing the problem’
According to Colapinto, it becomes especially dangerous when straight sections aren’t actually straight. “Some Straight Mode sections are not straight, it’s a slight curve. I looked in my mirror and saw him spinning on the grass, but even then he still overtook me. That says a lot about the speed difference,” said the Argentine. “During overtaking maneuvers, you sometimes don’t even see when someone is coming. It feels artificial at times.”
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The Alpine driver therefore also wants the FIA to intervene. “These are all things we need to look at with the FIA. In Melbourne, I had to avoid Liam Lawson, who was driving one hundred kilometers per hour slower at the start. That happens with these cars, and we need to start understanding the problem to solve it,” Colapinto concluded. Despite the incident, he is mainly relieved that Bearman is unhurt. “I’m glad he’s okay. I saw him in the paddock and he seemed fine, but it was a big hit.”
NOW ONLINE: 40-page Race Special GP Japan: our online magazine with current events, reactions, analysis, and interview!
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