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Bearman flags possible brake problem after unusual Sepang lock-up

GPBeat reports that Oliver Bearman was classified 18th in Saturday qualifying at Sepang and said an unusual left-front lock-up normally pointed to a possible brake problem. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said an FP2 mistake left Bearman without information from that session.

GPBeat · Newsroom04 Oct 2026, 21:57 · 1 min
AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph.
AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph. · 2026-10-04GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Oliver Bearman was classified 18th in Saturday qualifying at Sepang with a time of 1:37.980. The Haas driver said the unusual left-front lock-up at Turn 1 on his second run normally suggested a possible brake problem that needed investigating.

According to Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, an operational mistake on Bearman’s car in FP2 left him without information from that session; the team could not make up for it in FP3 because the tyres lasted only one lap.

Bearman said he had only two push laps going into FP3, leaving too little time to correct mistakes, and entered qualifying still trying to work out what to do with the car and his driving. On his final run, he lacked confidence and left time on the table.

Sources 04
  1. PRIMARY SOURCEWhat the teams said – Qualifying in MalaysiaFormula 1
  2. PRIMARY SOURCE– October 3, 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia: Qualifying RecapHaas F1 · Team statement; interested source
  3. PRIMARY SOURCEDoc 42 - Final Qualifying ClassificationFIA F1 decision documents
  4. PRIMARY SOURCEWhat the teams said – Race day in MalaysiaFormula 1
Claims and supporting evidence 7
Bearman was classified 18th in Saturday qualifying at Sepang with a time of 1:37.980.

The FIA final qualifying classification lists Bearman 18th with that time.

[3]
Bearman said his left-front locked at Turn 1 during his second qualifying run.

The qualifying roundup records his account of the incident.

[1]
Bearman said the unusual lock-up normally indicated a possible brake problem and needed investigation.

This is Bearman’s assessment and request, not a technical diagnosis.

[1]
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said an operational mistake on Bearman’s car in FP2 left him without information from that session.

This is Komatsu’s account in the Haas qualifying recap.

[2]
Komatsu said the team could not make up for the missed FP2 information in FP3 because the tyres lasted only one lap.

This is Komatsu’s explanation of the team’s limited opportunity to recover in FP3.

[2]
Bearman said two push laps going into FP3 left too little time to correct mistakes and that he entered qualifying still working out what to do with the car and his driving.

This reports Bearman’s account of his preparation and uncertainty.

[1]
Bearman said he lacked confidence on his final run and left time on the table.

The qualifying roundup records his description of his final run.

[1]

This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.