Ollie Bearman’s hopes of a strong start at the Spanish Grand Prix were dashed after a heavy crash in Free Practice 3 on Saturday. The Haas driver was forced to withdraw from the qualifying session, leaving the team with only one car on the grid for the race. Per Formula1.com, the collision occurred on the final lap of the session, sending Bearman’s car into the barriers on the left side of the start‑line corner. The impact was severe enough to damage the front suspension, making the car unrepairable in time for the 10‑minute qualifying window.
Haas team principal Mattia Binotto confirmed the damage and the decision to pull the car from the track. “We had to make a tough call,” Binotto said. “The car is not going to be ready for the next session, and we don’t want to risk the driver’s safety.” Bearman, who had been looking forward to a competitive weekend, admitted the incident was a painful learning moment. “It hurts a lot,” he said in a post‑session interview, adding that he should have been more cautious on the final lap.
With Bearman out of qualifying, Haas will rely on the performance of their sole remaining driver, Nico Hülkenberg, to secure the best possible grid position for the race. The team’s strategy now hinges on Hülkenberg’s ability to extract a fast lap in the limited time remaining. While the Spanish GP is a challenging track for the Haas cars, a strong qualifying performance could still provide valuable points for the team in the Constructors’ Championship.
For Indian fans, the Spanish Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode from 12:00 PM IST, with the qualifying session starting at 10:30 AM IST. Be sure to tune in to catch any last‑minute updates on the Haas team’s plans and Bearman’s recovery status. The race itself begins at 2:00 PM IST, offering ample time to follow the action from start to finish.
Source: Formula1.com
