Formula One drivers are calling for urgent modifications to the 2026 regulations following Oliver Bearman's frightening collision with barriers at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 20-year-old British racer was travelling at approximately 190mph when he was forced to swerve to avoid Franco Colapinto's slower Alpine, losing control and slamming into the barriers with an impact measured at 50G.
Bearman required assistance from marshals after the incident on lap 22 and was transported to the medical centre, where he was diagnosed with a right-knee contusion.
He said afterwards: "I'm absolutely fine. It was a scary moment but everything's OK which is the main thing."
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Carlos Sainz accused the FIA of disregarding repeated driver warnings about such incidents occurring under the new technical rules.
Sainz said: "We've been warning them about this happening.
"This kind of closing speeds and accidents were always going to happen."
The Spanish driver noted the 50G impact exceeded his own serious crash in Russia in 2015, which registered 46G, and expressed hope the incident would prompt the governing body to heed driver concerns.
Formula One drivers are calling for urgent modifications to the 2026 regulations following Oliver Bearman's frightening collision
| GETTYFollowing the season opener in Melbourne, Lando Norris had cautioned that competitors would "fly over fences and do a lot of damage" without regulatory intervention to address speed differentials.
Fernando Alonso described modern overtaking as almost "accidental".
He explained: "Suddenly you find yourself with a higher battery than the car in front, and you either crash into them or you overtake them. It's an evasive manoeuvre, not an overtake."
Sainz raised particular alarm about upcoming street circuits, including Baku, Singapore and Las Vegas, where such closing speeds near concrete walls could prove catastrophic.
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Ollie Bearman was involved in a frightening incident at the Japanese Grand Prix when his Haas collided with the barrier | SKYSPORTSThe dramatic speed differential stemmed from the 2026 cars' battery-harvesting systems, which cause vehicles to travel at vastly different speeds on the same stretch of track.
Haas confirmed Bearman was clocked at 308kph (191mph) moments before the collision, while Colapinto's Alpine was moving at roughly 260kph (161mph) - creating a closing speed of approximately 48kph.
Bearman was pushed onto the grass while attempting to avoid the slower car, subsequently losing control, crashing through brake marker signs and careening back across the circuit before striking the barriers.
The 20-year-old explained: "It was a massive overspeed 50kph which is unreal. It's a part of these new regulations which we have to get used to. But I felt like I wasn't given much space given the huge excess speed that I was carrying."
F1 facts fans might not know | GETTY/GBNEWSThe FIA responded to driver criticism by insisting it would not be pressured into hasty alterations, instead utilising the five-week break before Miami to evaluate the new regulations.
"Any potential adjustments, particularly those related to energy management, require careful simulation and detailed analysis," the governing body stated, confirming that April meetings would assess whether refinements were necessary.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli claimed victory in the race, which was disrupted by the safety car deployment following Bearman's crash.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen indicated he would pursue "some more racing, some stuff that makes me smile" during the break, fuelling ongoing speculation that the four-time world champion may be contemplating leaving Formula One.
The Red Bull driver had described himself as "beyond frustrated" with the new era on Saturday, comparing it to Mario Karts.
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