Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Oliver Bearman of Haas F1 Team revealed a critical near-miss with Isack Hadjar during the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, an incident that nearly resulted in a high-speed collision at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The moment occurred during an intense wheel-to-wheel battle in the opening phase of the race. Hadjar, representing Red Bull Racing, lost control after locking his rear axle while marginally ahead of Bearman. The sudden spin placed his car directly in Bearman’s path, creating an immediate and severe risk of contact.
Bearman reacted instinctively within a fraction of a second, moving left in an attempt to avoid the spinning car. However, with Hadjar rotating in the same direction, the Haas driver was forced onto the tarmac run-off area to escape what could have been a major accident.
“That was the moment I almost hit him,” Bearman said to Viaplay.
“To be honest, that was extremely close. I was very lucky to avoid it.”
He acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, indicating that the outcome could have been significantly worse given the speed and positioning of both cars at the time.
“I was really lucky to avoid that. Honestly, I’m lucky to be standing here. It could have been a huge crash,” he added.
Bearman also highlighted the challenging track conditions, noting that wind instability made car balance unpredictable throughout the race, particularly in the corner where the incident occurred.
“That corner was very tricky all race with the wind constantly changing. The car balance was difficult, and I think it affected everyone,” he explained.
“We were pushing hard, and it felt like the corner was done, but suddenly he was sideways, and I had to react immediately.”
As a consequence of the incident, Bearman dropped to the back of the field. However, a combination of effective race strategy, strong tyre management, and competitive race pace enabled a significant recovery through the field.
He capitalised on a well-timed Safety Car phase and demonstrated strong overtaking performance, including moves on rivals from Alpine and Audi.
“The race was actually very strong after that. I made some overtakes, and the car felt really good,” Bearman stated.
“The Safety Car timing worked in our favour, and in the end, I was back to a similar position as before the incident.”
Bearman ultimately finished fifth, continuing a consistent start to his 2026 campaign. He has now scored points in every opportunity so far this season, including results in Australia and the Sprint event in China, underlining both driver execution and team efficiency.
With a total of 17 points, Bearman currently holds fifth position in the Drivers’ Championship, reflecting the competitiveness of the VF-26 package in race conditions despite ongoing qualifying challenges.
“At the moment, we seem stronger in race trim than in qualifying,” he noted.
“Qualifying has been more difficult, but overall the car balance is very good. It’s a strong baseline to build from.”
He also pointed to pressure from competitors such as Pierre Gasly, who showed strong late-race pace, reinforcing the intensity of the midfield battle.
The Shanghai weekend highlighted the importance of rapid decision-making and strategic execution under pressure, while also demonstrating Bearman’s ability to recover from adversity. Haas now carries positive momentum into the next round, with a clear focus on improving qualifying performance to strengthen its competitive position in the championship.
Read Also
Kimi Antonelli admits fault after clash with Isack Hadjar in China Sprint 2026, before securing maiden Grand Prix victory for Mercedes.
Max Verstappen receives Red Bull approval for Nurburgring 24 Hours 2026, with Laurent Mekies backing his multi-discipline ambitions.
Liam Lawson explains Racing Bulls strategy and radio moment in Chinese GP 2026, highlighting duel with Arvid Lindblad and decisive Safety Car timing.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!