ROUND 13 RESULTS | MONZA | ITALY | FORMULA 1

 

HAAS ISSUES OLIVER BEARMAN STATENENT AFTER 50G SHUNT AT F1 JAPANESE GP

Oliver Bearman suffered a high speed crash at the F1 Japanese GP

Oliver Bearman has been cleared by the FIA medical centre following a 50G crash at the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.

Bearman would have hoped to capitalise on his stellar start to the 2026 campaign at the Suzuka International Circuit, on Sunday.

However, mid-way through the 53-lap race, the Briton suffered a massive shunt in the run up to the Spoon Curve.

The Haas driver was on the gearbox of Franco Colapinto before he seemingly drifted onto the grass on the right-hand side and lost control of his VF-26.

Colapinto veered towards the outside of the tarmac, catching Bearman unwares, partly owing to the difference in closing speeds as the Argentinian driver was also harvesting the battery on his A526.

This sent him barrelling towards the barriers on the outside and resulted in a 50G impact for the 20-year-old Ferrari academy product.

While he got out of the car, Bearman was in visible discomfort particuarly with his right leg. The Banbury-based team has now issued a statement with respect to its driver’s well-being.

Haas has confirmed to media including Motorsport Week that Bearman had been taken to the FIA medical centre following the incident and underwent x-ray tests.

Bearman has suffered no fractures, thankfully, but has endured a right knee contusion.

Haas issued another update towards the end of the race, stating:

“Ollie has been cleared by Medical Centre.

“He has FIA dispensation to not attend Media Pen – we will make a quote available post-race etc.”

Lucklily for Bearman, the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, in April, means he will have enough time to recuperate before F1 goes back racing at the Miami International Autodrome in May.

- Anirban Aly Mandal

LAPS COMPLETED BY ARGENTINIAN DRIVERS IN FORMULA ONE

 

FLAVIO BRIATORE SLAMMED FOR HIS 'UNNECESSARY' STATEMENT ABOUT FRANCO COLAPINTO'S FUTURE AT ALPINE

Credit: Kym Illman/Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Image

Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore has raised some eyebrows with his latest comments about Franco Colapinto’s future, as the Argentine fights for his F1 seat.

Uncertainty continues to hang over Colapinto, with the 22-year-old still only in possession of a race-by-race contract to drive for Alpine in the 2025 F1 season. He initially got a five-race deal to replace Jack Doohan this May, but Briatore has so far opted to keep him in the A525.

Sources have told F1 Oversteer that Alpine have shocked a lot of the F1 paddock by keeping Colapinto in the A525 for so long. Many expected Briatore to reverse his decision and allow Doohan to get back in the car. Yet the Australian has had to settle for a seat on the sidelines.

Colapinto has largely failed to prove himself as an upgrade on Doohan, who Briatore canned after the first six rounds of the season. Alpine are still waiting to see Colapinto score his first point, with the Buenos Aires native’s average Grand Prix finish so far P15.2 from nine results.

Flavio Briatore criticised for narrowing Alpine’s 2026 shortlist down to Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron

It has been said that Briatore has studied the F1 driver market to find a potential alternative teammate for Pierre Gasly for 2026. Alpine have spoken with Zhou Guanyu about a possible return to F1. It is thought that Alpine hold an interest in McLaren junior Alex Dunne, as well.

But Briatore has now told The Race that Alpine will decide between retaining Colapinto next year or promoting their other reserve driver, Paul Aron, into a 2026 race seat. Briatore does not see “any other possibility” for Alpine’s 2026 F1 driver line-up among their other options.

Briatore’s public declaration that Colapinto or Aron will be Gasly’s teammate at Alpine next year has frustrated Tiff Needell. The ex-F1 driver believes there are “at least” four stronger candidates for the 2026 Alpine seat on the current Formula 2 grid than Colapinto and Aron.

He noted on X after Briatore’s claim: “So unnecessary to make such statements! There are at least four drivers on the F2 grid I’d put ahead of these two. But this is the Briatore way…”

What has Flavio Briatore said about Alpine’s 2026 F1 driver line-up plans?

It had already emerged that Aron is the most likely candidate to replace Colapinto if Briatore decides to rotate Alpine’s line-up again before the end of the 2025 season. But it is also now between the pair to fight over the final seat in Alpine’s driver line-up for the 2026 F1 season.

Juan Pablo Montoya doubts Aron is “the answer” for Alpine, should Briatore give the seat to the Estonian next year. Montoya wants to see Briatore sign a driver who can really challenge or even beat Gasly with equal machinery, but he questions whether Aron would be able to.

Aron has spent 2025 on the sidelines as Alpine’s reserve driver, while making FP1 outings for Sauber in Britain and Hungary plus for Alpine at Monza. The 2024 third-place F2 finisher has also impressed Briatore, who only needs “one or two” more races to decide Alpine’s line-up.

“It’s between Franco and Paul,” Briatore told The Race. “Paul is a very nice guy [and] a very quick driver, as well. And I need to understand what is best for the team, you know?”

He added: “My only interest is to try to take in the team the best driver available and do the best job with us. It is as simple as that. I need another one or two races to see. But honestly, today I don’t know [which one].”

- Kyle Archer

PIASTRI BEATS "CHEEKY" NORRIS FOR POLE AS VERSTAPPEN AND RUSSELL ARE TIRED

2025 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying report

Lando Norris was quickest after the first runs in Q3 but his team mate hit back to claim pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri led a McLaren one-two while Max Verstappen and George Russell set identical times and will share the second row of the grid.

It was a miserable and short session for Verstappen’s team mate, however. Yuki Tsunoda will start from last place.

Q1

Piastri signalled McLaren’s pace with his first run in qualifying. He produced a 1’12.551, just over a tenth of a second slower than he went in final practice.

Max Verstappen was the last driver to set their first time in Q1, and he took advantage of the track grip improving to nick second place off Lando Norris by one thousandth of a second. George Russell was another seven-thousandths behind in fourth.

Franco Colapinto looked on course to grab a place in Q2, sitting in 11th place after his first run, two places ahead of team mate Pierre Gasly. However while queueing to leave the pits his car slowed and refused to pull away. Those waiting behind him started to pick their way past the Alpine, which the driver eventually pulled over to one side at the pit lane exit.

Despite that disruption, the remaining drivers were still able to join the track and, in some cases, take advantage of the steadily improving conditions to secure passage into Q2. Colapinto’s name steadily dropped down the timing sheets into the drop zone – but he didn’t quite hit the bottom.

That was because Yuki Tsunoda was still having a tough time in the Red Bull. On Friday he’d been mystified by his inability to get closer to Verstappen’s times. From his first lap in qualifying he was off the pace, and afterwards told his team he suspected his floor was damaged. He improved his time on his final run but it wasn’t good enough to lift him up from last place.

A delighted Oliver Bearman reached Q2 while his team mate went no further. Nico Hulkenberg fell narrowly short of beating Isack Hadjar to the last place in Q2. Carlos Sainz Jnr suffered a disappointing qualifying session at home, dropping out in Q1.

Q2

Piastri remained on top after the first runs in Q2, but his team mate ran him closer. Norris produced a 1’12.056 but Piastri became the first driver to break into the 1’11s, pipping him by less than a tenth of a second.

Verstappen remained their closest threat, albeit three tenths of a second off Piastri. The next four cars were threateningly close behind, however: just two tenths covered Vertappen, Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc and Alonso.

Russell offered to assist Antonelli with a slipstream in order to help him reach Q3. Both Mercedes drivers duly made it through, joining the McLarens, Ferraris and Verstappen. Alonso ensured the home crowd had one representative in the top 10 on the grid but his team mate went no further.

An unimpressed Alexander Albon accused Haas of “dirty” tactics after encountering Oliver Bearman in the final sector. He was 11th after his final run, missing the cut by three-hundredths of a second, as Pierre Gasly claimed the final place in Q3.

A strong lap from Gabriel Bortoleto put him 12th on the grid behind the Williams. However Liam Lawson was unable to match Isack Hadjar, who was the only Racing Bulls driver to reach the final 10.

Q3

As Russell observed in Q2, the advantage of gaining a slipstream down the straight was significant. Norris positioned himself to take advantage of it, leaving the pits after Piastri and waiting for him on the outside of turn 12.

While Piastri accelerated to the line to finish his lap, Norris tucked in behind him to pick up a slipstream. “Cheeky,” remarked Piastri. The tactic appeared to pay off: Norris beat Piastri’s time in the first sector and despite losing time in the second pinched provisional pole position off him by a hundredth of a second.

Russell and Leclerc relegated Verstappen to fifth with their first runs. However the Mercedes driver was unhappy with the team’s tactics, saying they had needlessly thrown two tenths of a second away.

Before the final runs, Alonso took advantage of the opportunity to set a clear lap and went fifth-fastest. Verstappen therefore began his final run having slipped to sixth place.

Piastri and Verstappen had the last laughs after their final runs, however. Norris was first of the McLaren drivers to set a time, and chipped a few hundredths off his mark, but Piastri lopped two tenths of a second off that to capture pole position.

Verstappen rebounded on his last run as well, claiming third place with a 1’11.848. Russell then matched that to within a thousandth of a second, putting him fourth.

Those improvements relegated Hamilton to fifth place ahead of Antonelli. Leclerc took seventh, while Alonso saw his initial fifth place translate to 10th on the grid after Gasly and Hadjar also beat it.

- Keith Collantine

JACK DOOHAN SENDS DEFIANT 'LAST RACE' MESSAGE IN FACE OF INTENSE F1 PRESSURE

© XPBimages

Jack Doohan is tuning out the noise ahead of his first home grand prix, which he is adamant will not be his last in F1.

Jack Doohan insists he will "enjoy" every grand prix he races this season as if it is his last in F1.

The embattled Alpine driver has endured near-constant speculation over his future during the winter break after the French team signed a quadrant of test and reserve drivers, headlined by prising Franco Colapinto away from Williams on a multi-year deal.

Team Enstone had to pay a significant sum to free the Argentine from his contract at the Grove-based squad and his arrival has further heaped pressure on Doohan - and fed into the persistent but unfounded rumour the 22-year-old has only a matter of rounds to prove himself to Flavio Briatore and team principal Oliver Oakes.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365 ahead of his home grand prix in Melbourne, Doohan indirectly debunked that myth.

"Great question," the Australian joked to a chorus of laughter when asked how he feels about the extra pressure and the prospect of the current trip to Albert Park being his only home race in F1.

"To be honest... I haven't been thinking about any of that because, as you all know, there’s no point thinking about rumours or commenting on them.

"But I have a contract for at least this year, if not more. So, I look forward to many home grands prix."

Doohan: 'All four reserves want my seat'

Despite Alpine stacking its bench with alternatives, Doohan maintains the four drivers behind him and team-mate Pierre Gasly do not move the needle.

He is adamant that he must perform - and enjoy himself - each and every time he gets into the car, something that would be the case without the presence of Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and Kush Maini as well.

"And the uncertainties? You don't bother worrying about them," Doohan explained. "I think I have to perform each and every time I'm in the car. I have one guy chasing my seat, but we actually have four [reserve and test drivers] now, if you didn't realise.

"We have four reserves, you have all four of them, not just Franco, probably wants my seat and if not, Pierre’s as well.

while I was reserve driver the last two years. So I'm going to enjoy every race as if it's my last, because I want to enjoy each and every moment I'm in the car.

"But, yeah, to be honest, not much more to add on that."

- Samuel Coop

JENSON' BUTTON HAS BELIEF THAT WILLIAMS IN ON THE RIGHT PATH IN F1

 

Jenson Button has seen 'belief' restored at Williams

Jenson Button claims he has seen “belief” within the Williams outfit that it is back on the right path in Formula 1.

Button made his F1 debut with the team – then under the stewardship of founder Sir Frank Williams and technical guru Patrick Head – back in 2000, and rejoined as a senior advisor in 2021.

The 2009 World Champion, who also provides analysis for Sky Sports, has observed the similarities between his early days with the team and the present, during which time it has negotiated some rocky spells under the transition of ownership and new team principals.

“The atmosphere kind of feels the same as back in 2000,” Button told Crash.net.

“It feels fun, exciting, obviously serious when it comes to racing, but it is a nice family atmosphere.

“When I re-joined the team as an ambassador the atmosphere wasn’t quite the same,” he explained.

“You had people that have been here for a couple of decades, [even] three decades, and then you had an influx of new talent coming into the team.

“There was a need to put together the right leadership to bring everyone together to work as one.”

Despite enduring a difficult 2024 campaign, scoring just 17 points to finish ninth in the Constructors’ standings, Williams is a team determined to build for a better future.

That is the mantra of Team Principal James Vowles and Button believes Williams has “belief” from within that things are trending upward.

“Now I think there’s a lot more belief in the direction of where the team is going, which is so important when you’re trying to work together to build for the future,” he said.

Alpine-bound Colapinto ‘refreshing’

Button also heaped praise on Franco Colapinto, who raced in the final nine rounds of last season with Williams, scoring five points, tempting Alpine to poach him on a multi-year deal which begins with a reserve driver role in 2025.

“It’s been really refreshing to watch a driver jump into the car and be competitive from the word go,” Button said of the Argentine.

“I think we all have a lot of respect for Alex [Albon], how good he is and what he is able to achieve in this sport. For somebody young to be able to jump in and push him is very impressive.

“You learn from your teammates no matter how old or young they are, whether they’re inexperienced or experienced, you still learn from the data.

“It really helps the team move forward as well if they have two drivers that are competitive, that can learn from each other and move this team forward.”

Albon will of course face stern competition this year in the form of established Grand Prix-winner Carlos Sainz, who joins from Ferrari.

- Jack Oliver Smith

BRAZIL GRAND PRIX: WILLIAMS 'HURTING' AFTER THREE BIG CRASHES BY

F1.com

Williams boss James Vowles said he was "hurting" after the Formula 1 team suffered three costly crashes in Brazil on Sunday and dropped a place in the constructors' world championship.

Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon both crashed in qualifying at Interlagos, postponed from Saturday, with the latter driver unable to take part in the race because the mechanics were unable to rebuild his car in time.

Argentine rookie Colapinto then crashed again in the race, triggering red flags.

With Renault-owned Alpine finishing second and third with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in a rain-hit grand prix, Williams fell to ninth in the standings with three rounds remaining and 27 points between them and eighth-placed RB.

"The nature of Formula One is that you can have some of the most incredible feelings and results, as well as some of the lowest moments that you can feel within a sport. I think it's fair to say this weekend is the second of those two," Vowles said.

"We've had three incredibly large crashes in just a few hours from one another and have a tremendous amount of work to get ourselves back on top of our spares situation before we go to Las Vegas in just a few weeks' time."

Vowles said he had watched the race through to the end, despite Colapinto crashing before the half-distance, because he wanted "to make sure I remember today because this isn't what I want us to be feeling in the future."

Albon said it had been a tough few weeks with the team now in a challenging position.

"I really didn't expect the incident in Turn One to happen, so we need to take a proper look to figure out what happened," he added.

"It's disappointing as it would've been a great opportunity to score points, as we knew coming to Brazil there is always a chance for crazy races, however it's our competitors who've been able to capitalise on this."

- Reuters 

BREAKING: LOGAN SARGENT DROPPED

BREAKING: Williams Racing have announced Logan Sargeant will be replaced for the remainder of the 2024 season by Franco Colapinto

 

FRANCO COLAPINTO ON POLE IN HIS FIRST F3 QUALIFYING | F3