Driver Oliver Bearman has unleashed his fury on the FIA, labeling the handling of his qualifying session at the Imola Grand Prix as “totally unfair.” The British racer from Haas expressed his frustration after his fastest lap was nullified due to a late red flag during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix qualifiers.
Bearman was caught in a storm of controversy when his qualifying lap was scrapped because of a red flag incident that occurred after he had crossed the finish line. The young driver claims he was not promptly notified of the red flag, leading to his lap being discounted by the FIA.
The qualifying session at the Imola Grand Prix was marred by two red flag incidents, the first caused by Yuki Tsunoda crashing into the wall while the second was triggered by Franco Colapinto’s violent collision. Despite Bearman’s belief that the red flag was not shown when he completed his lap, the FIA maintained its decision to invalidate his time, leaving him disappointed and qualified in 19th place.
In a bold statement, Bearman criticized the FIA’s inflexibility, stating, “I feel like once they make a decision, even if it’s wrong – even if it’s clearly wrong – they’re not going to turn back on it. And that seems a bit harsh.” The controversial ruling not only affected Bearman’s position on the grid but also dashed his hopes of showcasing the team’s new package effectively.
Despite Haas’ efforts to appeal the decision, the stewards stood firm, relegating Bearman to the back of the grid. The driver expressed his dismay at the situation, emphasizing the significant effort and investment that went into preparing for the race weekend.
As a result of the contentious decision, Bearman will start the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in 19th place, with his teammate Esteban Ocon beside him in 18th place. The tense qualifying session has left Bearman and the Haas team disillusioned but determined to make the most of the race ahead.
